Erika Kirk trolled after telling daughter daddy’s on a “work trip with Jesus” for blueberries

Erika Kirk has broken her silence following the assassination of her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but her first public words have generated more ridicule than sympathy. In a widely circulated video, Erika is seen addressing her children about their father’s death with a line that quickly became infamous, “Baby, Daddy loves you so much, he’s on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford your blueberry budget.”

The unusual phrasing has left the internet divided, with critics accusing Erika of insensitivity and performative grieving. While some argued she was simply trying to comfort her children, others found the moment staged, with one viral post asking, “Why record this instead of just holding them?” Another widely shared comment read, “He died a political martyr, and she reduced it to a blueberry budget.”

Online reaction was swift and unforgiving. Memes flooded social media with captions like “our thoughts and blueberries are with you,” mocking her choice of metaphor. Users photoshopped blueberry baskets next to religious imagery, parodying the connection she drew between Jesus, finances and fruit. On Reddit and TikTok, ‘blueberry budget’ trended as a catchphrase, with users joking about sending care packages of fruit in her husband’s honour.

For many, Erika’s first speech since Charlie’s assassination highlighted the tension between personal grief and public performance. Supporters defended her, suggesting that parents often reach for metaphors when explaining death to children. But detractors felt her remarks trivialised both faith and the magnitude of Charlie’s death, which has left a significant mark on the conservative movement he helped lead.

The viral fallout underscores how quickly private mourning can be turned into public spectacle. Erika Kirk’s words may have been intended as a tender explanation for toddlers, yet online they have become shorthand for misplaced theatrics, inspiring both criticism and humour in equal measure.