Candace Owens has released audio of a conversation involving Erika Kirk speaking to Turning Point USA staff approximately two weeks following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

The outspoken conservative commentator criticized Erika for what she described as an excessively cheerful demeanor, accusing the widow of laughing while promoting a controversial narrative. Owens repeatedly labeled Erika’s behavior as ‘odd’ and ‘bizarre.’

Owens, who fronts a globally popular podcast, condemned Erika for focusing on merchandise sales and donations shortly after Charlie’s memorial service in Phoenix, Arizona.

“We’re not even two weeks past witnessing your husband’s assassination, and the discussion is about numbers and metrics being achieved,” Owens remarked, citing conversations with employees who found Erika’s attitude to be ‘unsettling.’

Erika, who was recently named chief executive and chairperson of TPUSA, had organized a Zoom call to motivate employees, commending their efforts after the memorial, which was attended by former President Donald Trump and broadcast worldwide.

She told staff she was optimistic about the future, while acknowledging that her enthusiasm might sound strange in the tragic circumstances. 

‘Since his assassination, we have just shy of 100,000 chapter requests, over 300,000 new donors, over 50,000 new hat orders. And I’m listing these because I want to put it into perspective because we’re not just sitting there looking at the wall trying to figure out what we’re doing,’ Erika said. 

‘It’s weird to say that I’m excited. I really hesitate saying that. It’s a really weird thing to say. But I think it comes from a space of peace knowing that God’s using this and we’re humbly witnessing the gospel in real time.’ 

Candace Owens on Tuesday leaked a conference call of Erika Kirk talking to Turning Point USA employees around two weeks after her husband Charlie’s assassination

President Donald Trump stands with Erika Kirk at the conclusion of a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in Arizona on September 21

Owens said in response: ‘All of this makes my skin crawl.’

Erika said at the start of the call: ‘Wow. I don’t even know where to begin. The fact that we were able to pull off an event of a century, like, it’s just insane. We had over 275,000 people attend, stadium overflow, Westgate – insane, you guys.’ 

The 37-year-old praised her staff for working 20-hour days for a week in the run-up to the event while ‘grieving the loss of my husband.’

Erika urged staff to come together and put aside any personal differences, as well as urged them to take time off if they needed time to grieve.

‘If you guys have any beef with each other from the past or have any issues, please put it to rest. Like my husband’s dead. Like I’m not trying to be morbid, but he’s dead, and it puts life into perspective of how short life is,’ Erika said.

‘If you do need additional time to grieve, please continue to use Turning Point USA’s network of counselors. And if you need additional time off, please talk to your director about using paid time off.’

Owens targeted Erika over this aspect of the call, claiming it would put employees in an uncomfortable position because they would compare their grief to the widow’s. 

‘Imagine you’re the employee. You’re like, ‘Okay, well, this is his wife saying this, so am I weird? Would I be like, I would be pretty weird if I needed to take time off and his wife is saying she’s full steam ahead?” Owens said.

Erika Kirk greets Vice President JD Vance during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix

During the call Erika said that Charlie was watching TPUSA from heaven and would be proud of their achievements.

‘We have so much to do which is exciting,’ she told the employees. ‘Charlie in heaven is like, you guys thought you had a busy schedule then just you wait.

‘And he’s doing some awesome things with Jesus in heaven right now, but there’s so much work to be done.’

Owens claimed that this was ‘very strange’ and criticized Erika for her laughter during the call.

‘It’s very strange. It is even kind of using this idea of Charlie being in heaven looking down and the laughter. I don’t know. I feel like the rest of you and I feel uncomfortable.’ 

Owens’ criticism of Erika on the call is the latest in an onslaught of public attacks that has seen her podcast rake in extraordinary viewing figures, with tens of millions tuning in every week.  

She has accused the widow of using Charlie’s legacy to promote and enrich herself, and take TPUSA in a direction its late founder never intended. 

Erika has not directly responded to Owens’ repeated attacks, but in early December she slammed ‘evil’ conspiracy theorists for making revolting claims linking TPUSA to Charlie’s assassination. She also held a face-to-face discussion with Owens that appeared to result in a truce, which has since proved short-lived. 

She told Fox on December 10: ‘Come after me, call me names, I don’t care. Call me what you want, go down that rabbit hole, whatever.

‘But … when you go after the people that I love and you’re making hundreds of thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love because somehow they’re in on this? No.’

Erika additionally shared during a December CBS News town hall moderated by the network’s editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, that her message to those spreading conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk’s assassination was the following: ‘Stop. That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.’

Charlie Kirk was shot dead during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with his murder. 

The Daily Mail has contacted TPUSA and Owens for comment.