‘Asking For Decorum Is Not Taking Sides’: Stephen A. Smith Says Charlie Kirk’s Widow Embodies His Legacy

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said on NewsNation Friday that Erica Kirk’s public remarks after her husband’s assassination embodied the dignity and values Charlie Kirk stood for.

Erika addressed the nation for the first time Friday, delivering an emotional tribute to her late husband and vowing to continue his work. In an appearance on “Cuomo,” Smith said that while he never met the Turning Point USA founder, he was struck by the way Erika represented her late husband.

“When I saw Erika Kirk just now speaking and watching her speak in its entirety right here with you, let’s say this on her behalf. What she said, how she said it, and the manner in which she represented her husband, you talked about how it will make him proud, because you knew him a little bit,” Smith told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo. “I never met him. I knew nothing about him. But what I would tell you is that what man wouldn’t want his woman, his lady, his wife, to represent him the way that she just did.”

Smith said Erika’s emotional remarks honored her husband’s memory with rare strength.

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“She spoke glowingly about him as a husband, as a father, as a leader for his organization, and she also vowed to continue his work. And when you see something like that, that’s reminiscent of individuals that have suffered an assassin’s bullet in years past that was represented by their spouses in very heroic fashion. So we appreciate that,” Smith said.

Smith also pressed political commentators and the press to call out threats to civil society without worrying about appearing partisan. (RELATED: ‘A Great Friend Of Israel’: Netanyahu Mourns Charlie Kirk)

“Pundits, commentators, members of the media, we need to do an even better job of holding folks to account. When we sense evil, when we sense volumness, when we sense people that are deviating from norms that contribute largely to a civilized society, we need to call it out, and we need to make sure that we’re unapologetic in doing so,” Smith said. “Because, again, asking for decorum is not taking sides. Asking for nonviolence and peaceful dialogue, even if it’s disagreeable, it’s not going against those things that we hold near and dear to our heart. And I think that’s incredibly important.”

Authorities identified the suspected shooter in Kirk’s assassination as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson after a family friend tipped off law enforcement Thursday evening. Investigators say Robinson gunned down Kirk while the Turning Point USA founder addressed students at Utah Valley University.

Robinson’s father recognized him in photos released by authorities, confronted his son, and then alerted law enforcement, according to the New York Post. Robinson allegedly told his father he would rather die than surrender. His father persuaded him to speak with their youth pastor.

Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Friday that investigators recovered shell casings from the shooting inscribed with taunts such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” and “if you read this you are gay LMAO.”

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