There is already a developing online argument around Erika Kirk’s new Wikipedia site. People are arguing about whether or not she is “notable” enough to have her article. The campaign for deletion comes only days after her husband, Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was murdered and killed while speaking at a university event in Utah.
The deadly occurrence happened on Wednesday, September 10, when Charlie was speaking to a group at an event put on by his youth group. A 22-year-old man named Tyler Robinson opened fire and hit Kirk in the neck. Erika and the couple’s two children were there at the time. The action was being streamed live, and disturbing videos of Kirk falling to the ground with blood streaming from the wound have since been shared on social media sites like X (previously Twitter). Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and quickly declared him dead.
Tyler Robinson, the suspect, appeared in Utah County Court over video link on Tuesday, September 16. Prosecutors said that he is being held without bail in a high-security unit of Utah County Jail and that they want the death penalty because the crime was planned and there were youngsters present during the attack. Police are still investigating the motive, but they haven’t ruled out ideological reasons, given that Kirk was a well-known politician.
After the shooting, Erika Kirk, who had kept her life mostly secret up to that point, gave a short but emotional statement in which she called her husband a “patriot, husband, and father” and promised to respect his memory. A Wikipedia site about Erika was created almost right away after the news of her death emerged. It talked about her past as a previous beauty pageant winner (Miss Arizona USA 2012), her marriage to Charlie, and her recent public appearances.
However, there was a lot of debate on Wikipedia when some editors questioned if Erika is important enough to be on the site. Wikipedia says that for someone to have their article, there must be a lot of coverage from trustworthy, independent sources that isn’t just about their connection to a more famous person.
People who don’t like Erika’s page say that it was only made since her husband died and that she hadn’t gotten any media attention on her own before then. One editor said in the “Articles for Deletion” thread, “This article was written after Charlie Kirk was killed yesterday, but the only other coverage is limited (like her participation in beauty pageants) or comes from her husband.” Another person said, “This looks like a WP:ONEEVENT case.” Her current fame is completely due to the untimely loss of her husband.
Wikipedia administrators then locked the article because there were too many edits, there were concerns about vandalism, and the matter was too sensitive. The article is locked, and editors are reviewing arguments for and against its deletion. We should maintain the protection until September 18, at which point we may make a final decision.
Still, many users and political supporters are passionately against the possible removal, saying it is too early and disrespectful. Supporters refer to Erika’s recent public comments and a stunning speech she gave just two nights after Charlie died. Erika said during the speech, which was carried live on Fox News, that she would continue her husband’s work with Turning Point USA and promised to “fight even harder” for the causes he supported.
Someone on the deletion thread said that Wikipedia’s approach was silly: “Wikipedia looks silly with a banner on top saying that this topic is being deleted.” Is it possible to make changes before September 18? Again, that’s crazy. Another person agreed, saying, “This is ridiculous nitpicking.” She is now famous; hence, she should be added to Wiki. There are many people on Wiki who are not “notable” by most people’s standards.
The discussion also makes us think about how sites like Wikipedia decide who is notable, especially when it comes to recent catastrophes or people who suddenly become famous. Some people say that Erika’s fame after the catastrophe, along with her former public activities like her pageant title and work with charities, is enough to fulfill the criteria. Some people say that news of a spouse’s death shouldn’t automatically give long-term importance on a public information platform.
The increasingly heated political climate makes things much more difficult. Charlie Kirk was a well-known and controversial personality in American conservative politics. He was noted for being a strong supporter of Donald Trump and for taking tough positions on issues including immigration, education, and free speech. His death has only made arguments on social media stronger, and Erika’s changing public role has swiftly turned political.
It’s unclear what will happen to Erika’s Wikipedia page, which is currently locked. Editors will decide whether to delete, keep, or combine her article with her late husband’s based on how they interpret Wikipedia’s rules and if they think her growing fame marks the start of a separate public career or is just a moment that came from a personal sorrow.