Candace Owens Claims Erika Kirk Dodged TPUSA Event Due to Poor Ticket Sales
Right-wing commentator Candace Owens has publicly accused Erika Kirk of fabricating reasons for skipping a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, suggesting that poor ticket sales were the real issue. “This is exhausting,” Owens posted on X, questioning the legitimacy of Kirk's claims about security threats. “You pulled out because of bad ticket sales... Were there actually a viable threat, the Vice President would not have continued the event.”
Social media footage revealed rows of empty seats at the venue, raising eyebrows about attendance. Kirk was scheduled to appear alongside Vice President JD Vance, who proceeded with the event despite organizers citing “very serious threats” against Kirk.
Erika Kirk’s late husband was tragically shot in September during a campus event in Utah, which has heightened scrutiny around her public appearances. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet expressed concern about the current state of affairs, stating, “It’s a terrible reflection on the state of reality and the state of the country,” while addressing the audience at Akins Ford Arena in Athens.
In her own words on X, Kirk emphasized her commitment to safety: “I was so looking forward to tonight’s event at the [University of Georgia] with our Vice President [JD Vance], but after all our family has been through, I take my security team’s recommendations extremely seriously.” Vance echoed this sentiment, noting that the threats had left Kirk feeling “worried.” He criticized those attacking her character following her husband’s death, calling it disgraceful.
“Everybody is attacking her over everything, and they’re lying about her,” Vance remarked. “It’s one of the most disgraceful things that I’ve ever seen in public life.” The Independent has reached out to Turning Point USA for further comment.
Vance maintains a close relationship with the Kirk family. In December, Erika Kirk expressed support for Vance’s anticipated 2028 presidential campaign, vowing to help elect him “in the most resounding way possible.” Following her husband’s death, Vance hosted a memorial episode of Kirk’s podcast from the White House and accompanied Erika on Air Force Two as they transported her husband’s remains to Arizona.
Speculation about their relationship intensified after an affectionate hug shared at a Turning Point USA event in Mississippi, where Kirk noted similarities between Vance and her late husband. During Tuesday’s event, Vance addressed the scrutiny surrounding Erika without directly referencing the gossip about their interactions. “This desire to go after her for the way she’s grieving her husband, that’s the most preposterous thing I’ve seen in a long time,” he stated.
“Why don’t you stay in your own lane and mind your business,” he added. “Grief is complicated.” Second lady Usha Vance dismissed rumors of an inappropriate relationship as an unfounded “fever dream” perpetuated by media narratives. “I’d rather just sort of live in my marriage and in the real world,” she told USA Today.
Erika Kirk also downplayed speculation regarding her hug with Vance, describing it as a benign expression of her “love language.” “Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves,” she told podcaster Megyn Kelly. “My love language is touch, if you will.”
Vance’s appearance in Georgia followed a series of controversies on the global stage, including failed negotiations in Pakistan regarding the Iran war and ongoing tensions with the Vatican over U.S. foreign policy. At the Turning Point event, he addressed these issues while promoting his upcoming memoir about his Catholic faith.
Vance acknowledged criticism from the pope regarding U.S. actions in Iran but maintained that dialogue should be welcomed. “I like that the pope is an advocate for peace,” he said. “On the other hand, how can you say that God is never on the side of those who wield the sword?”
He argued that such views contradict centuries of Christian just war theory, citing American soldiers’ moral justification during WWII. As Vance spoke, a heckler interrupted, criticizing U.S. involvement in Gaza and labeling it genocide. Vance responded by asserting his administration's role in resolving conflicts and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Despite challenges during the event, including visible empty seats—estimated at 25 percent capacity—Vance remained optimistic about future elections. He dismissed predictions of a Republican defeat in the midterms as “cynical, pessimistic garbage.”
“The idea that midterms are gone is preposterous,” he asserted, framing upcoming elections as critical battles against a politically aggressive left. “We cannot let them [the opposition] achieve political power,” he concluded.
