Erika Kirk (née Frantzve) is ready to talk about Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial comments about the man accused of murdering her late husband.
In her first TV interview since Charlie Kirk’s death, Erika, 36, was asked by Fox News host Jesse Watters to address the drama that previously surrounded Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
“Jimmy Kimmel lied about your husband’s murder and didn’t really apologize,” Watters, 47, claimed in a sneak peek clip. “What would you say to Jimmy Kimmel?”
Erika replied, “Same thing I told Sinclair. They asked — I haven’t really told anybody this — so they asked, ‘Do you want Jimmy to give you an apology? Do you want to be on a show? How can we make it right?’ Through our team, I responded.”
Jimmy Kimmel got candid about his show’s recent suspension during an appearance on fellow late night talk show host Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show. The two comedians appeared on each other’s programs on Tuesday, September 30, and spilled the beans on their recent issues with their respective networks. Kimmel, 57, returned to the air last […]
Kimmel, 57, was suspended by ABC in September after discussing the circumstances surrounding Charlie’s untimely death. That suspension was driven in part by ABC affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair, who criticized Kimmel’s comments and promised to preempt the show.
Erika Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel Getty Images (2)
In her interview with Fox News — which airs in full on Wednesday, November 5 — Erika recalled her response to Sinclair’s inquiry.
“I said, ‘Tell them thank you, we received their note. This is not our issue, not our mess. If you want to say I’m sorry to someone who’s grieving, go right ahead. But if that’s not in your heart, don’t do it. I don’t want it. I don’t need it,’” she recalled.
When Kimmel returned to his show the following week, he delivered an extended monologue in which he addressed his original comments and the widow’s public eulogy specifically.
“I do want to make something clear because it’s important to me as a human that you understand it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said on September 23, at times growing emotional. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. Nor was my intent to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that to some it felt ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. For those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset — if the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d feel the same way.”
During his monologue, Kimmel also praised Erika for her strength after she vowed to forgive the 22-year-old accused of shooting and killing Charlie. (The suspect has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including aggravated murder. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.)
“That is an example we should follow,” he said. “If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply. And I hope it touches many, and if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that. Not this.”
Erika’s first interview since Charlie’s death will explore a variety of topics, including the suspect’s upcoming trial.
Jimmy Kimmel and ABC may have come to an agreement about his late night return, but media groups Nexstar and Sinclair still fought back. Us Weekly confirmed last week that ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! due to backlash over comments he made about the man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death and President […]
In a separate preview clip from the candid interview, Erika also opened up about how she talks to her kids about Charlie’s death when they ask where their father is. (The pair shared two children, a daughter, 3, and son, 17 months.)
“I said, ‘If ever you want to talk to Daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking to him — he can hear you,’” she shared. “I told [my daughter], ‘Daddy is in heaven.’ She goes, ‘You think I could go sometime?’ I said, ‘Baby, we will all go one day.’”
Erika’s interview with Watters will air on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News Wednesday, November 5, at 8 p.m. ET.
