Candace Owens Leaks Internal TPUSA Video in Escalating Feud with Erika Kirk
Political commentator Candace Owens has escalated her ongoing conflict with Erika Kirk by leaking an internal video call from Turning Point USA, less than a week after the assassination of Erika's husband, Charlie Kirk. The leaked footage, which Owens presented on her popular YouTube show this Wednesday, allegedly shows Erika addressing TPUSA employees and using the phrase 'Everyone grieves differently' for the first time.
Allegations of Weaponised Grief and PR Campaigns
Owens has made serious allegations against the 37-year-old widow, who assumed the role of CEO at TPUSA following her husband's tragic death. The controversial commentator claims that Erika and the organisation have deliberately weaponised this phrase as part of what she describes as a 'well-financed PR campaign against people asking meaningful questions.'
In the September 16th call obtained by Owens, Erika reportedly adopted a motivational tone while urging staff to support one another during this difficult period. The widowed mother-of-two made light of the situation by joking that 'weddings and funerals bring out the weirdest side of people' and encouraged employees not to 'read into' their colleagues' behaviour during this emotional time.
Questions of Authority and Memorial Planning
Owens, who has intensified her attacks on Erika since Charlie Kirk's death, suggests that the TPUSA chief was attempting to prevent staff from questioning her authority as they worked towards organising his memorial in Phoenix, Arizona. 'You can't question why,' Owens stated during her broadcast. 'If this is Charlie's vision, he's dancing in heaven, watching how a bunch of students that slaved for him 20-hour days to put together the memorial events.'
The commentator, who previously described Charlie Kirk as her 'best friend' following his assassination, has conducted what she frames as a committed campaign for 'truth' and 'justice' for Kirk in recent months. Owens has particularly criticised Erika for what she perceives as creating an 'emotional dependence' among TPUSA employees by describing her team as a 'family.'
Allegations of Staff Treatment and Financial Management
Owens claims to have spoken with disgruntled TPUSA employees and alleges that the organisation laid off staff who worked extensive 20-hour days, despite reportedly raising a quarter of a billion dollars following Kirk's assassination. In the newly leaked video call, Erika told staff that her husband would not want them 'to be sitting on the couch alone in your room,' and that 'he would want you to build.'
Owens responded to this sentiment by criticising Erika's framing as cult-like, suggesting that TPUSA staff were being 'manipulated' by her rhetoric. The podcast host had previously aired a separate conference call earlier this week in which Erika praised staff after the Charlie Kirk memorial on September 21st.
Heavenly References and Questioned Optimism
During that call, Erika stated that Kirk was watching TPUSA from heaven and would be proud of their achievements. She expressed optimism about the future while acknowledging that her enthusiasm might sound unusual given the tragic circumstances. '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,' Erika said during the conference call.
Owens responded bluntly to these comments: 'All of this makes my skin crawl.' The podcaster has accused the widow of using Charlie's legacy to promote and enrich herself while taking TPUSA in a direction its late founder never intended.
Failed Truce and Ongoing Conflict
Erika Kirk has not directly addressed Owens' repeated attacks, though last month she criticised 'evil' conspiracy theorists for making spurious claims linking TPUSA to her husband's assassination. Speaking to Fox News on December 10th, she pointedly stated: '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.'
The two women previously held a face-to-face discussion that appeared to result in a truce, though this has since proved short-lived. A spokesman for Owens told the Daily Mail on Wednesday: 'Erika violated the "truce" when she and Andrew Kolvet [Executive Producer of the Charlie Kirk Show] got caught, red-handed, orchestrating PR attacks against me recently. That's how we arrived at this moment.'
The spokesman further alleged that Erika had 'fired employees, without cause, after moving management to press them about their perceived loyalty to her.' Owens' camp claims that the TPUSA chair has avoided responding to 'meaningful criticism regarding her executive actions and behavior.'
Charlie Kirk was shot dead during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10th. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with his murder. The Daily Mail has contacted TPUSA for comment regarding the latest developments in this escalating political controversy.
