Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, drew attention on social media after making a hand gesture during her husband’s memorial service in Arizona on Sunday.
Kirk, 36, appeared on stage with President Donald Trump and raised her hand in a gesture widely recognized in American Sign Language to mean “I love you.” Some users online, however, claimed it resembled the “devil horns” symbol seen at rock concerts, leading to unfounded allegations of a “satanic” message.
A former Miss Arizona and devout Christian, Kirk had just delivered an emotional tribute to her late husband when she extended her thumb, index finger, and pinky. Despite the gesture’s established meaning, viral posts circulated suggesting it was a “devil horns” sign.
Supporters of Erika Kirk quickly rejected the claims, noting that the gesture was not satanic but a public expression of love, according to the Daily Mail.
“PSA: Erika Kirk’s hand sign at the end was sign language for I love you. Not a satanic hand sign. Dear lord… please give me strength on this app,” one user wrote on X.
Another added: “It’s sign language for ‘love you.’ Ignorance is exactly why people commit violence. LEARN THINGS! Don’t spew evil where none exists.”
Her hand motion accompanied her comments about her husband’s legacy and her choice to forgive Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk.
“The 31-year-old MAGA influencer wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,” Erika Kirk said during her eulogy in Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday.
