The widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has found herself at the center of an unexpected online storm after a gesture she made during his memorial service was misinterpreted by some as “satanic.” Erika Kirk, 36, addressed thousands of mourners at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium in Arizona on September 22, just 12 days after her husband was fatally shot on a Utah college campus.

Her remarks, delivered through tears, captured the grief and resilience of a woman determined to carry on her husband’s mission. “No assassin will ever stop us…” she said to thunderous applause. But as cameras rolled, a moment next to former President Donald Trump would overshadow much of her message.

A Gesture Gone Viral

While standing beside Trump, Erika raised her hand with her index and pinky fingers extended and her thumb out—a motion instantly dissected online. Detractors claimed she flashed the “devil horns,” a gesture often linked with heavy metal concerts or occult symbolism. “Why would she throw up a satanic hand sign at such a significant moment?” one commenter asked. Another wrote, “Sorry, this wasn’t a rock concert. Why end a heartfelt service with that?”

Accusations snowballed, with some insisting the hand sign was deliberate and sinister. “I caught this hand sign from Erika Kirk. It’s the Devil/Owl sign people use in dark meetings,” one user speculated.

Supporters Point Out the Truth

Others quickly corrected the narrative, noting that Erika’s gesture wasn’t satanic at all—it was the American Sign Language (ASL) symbol for “I love you.” The difference lies in the thumb: the “I love you” sign extends it outward, while the so-called “devil horns” keep it tucked in. Supporters flooded the internet with side-by-side photos of the two symbols, urging people not to twist an expression of love into something darker.

“PSA: Erika Kirk’s hand sign was literally sign language for I love you. Not a satanic hand sign. Please give me strength,” one exasperated commenter wrote. Another asked bluntly, “Is our education system that bad that people don’t know the difference?”

A Service of Faith and Forgiveness

Beyond the controversy, the memorial itself was filled with emotion and symbolism. Mourners began lining up before dawn to secure seats in the 63,000-capacity stadium. Overflow areas had to be prepared to handle the thousands who came to honor Kirk, described by his supporters as both a “martyr” and a “great American hero.”

During her address, Erika delivered perhaps the most powerful moment of the day when she announced she forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect accused of shooting her husband from a rooftop. “That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do,” she said.

Her message echoed her husband’s faith and mission. “These past 10 days after Charlie’s assassination, we didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see—we saw revival.”

A New Role, A Continuing Mission

Following her husband’s death, Erika has stepped into a prominent role as the new CEO of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization Charlie co-founded in 2012. “Charlie and I were united with purpose,” she told the crowd. “His passion was my passion, and now this mission is my mission.”

The slain activist was well-known for his campus appearances, where he debated controversial topics with young audiences. Erika made it clear those events would continue. “No assassin will ever stop us from standing up to defend those rights. When you stop the conversation, when you stop the dialogue, this is what happens,” she said, emphasizing the need for communication over violence.

A Legacy Under Scrutiny

The internet may continue to debate Erika’s hand gesture, but for those in the stadium, the focus was clear: honoring the life and work of Charlie Kirk. Her words highlighted both the pain of her loss and the conviction to move forward. “I saw the wound that ended his life,” she admitted. “I felt shock, I felt horror, and a level of heartache I didn’t even know existed.”

Yet even in the midst of grief, Erika projected strength. She not only forgave her husband’s alleged killer but also turned a moment of suspicion into one of love. Whether critics choose to believe it or not, her gesture next to Trump was a simple message to her husband, her children, and her supporters: “I love you.”