AceShowbiz - Candace Owens is scrutinizing the background of Erika Kirk, widow of the late Charlie Kirk, in her newly released multi-part documentary series titled Bride of Charlie. The series delves into Erika’s upbringing and the accuracy of her public narrative.

In the episode released on Wednesday, February 25, called “A Wrinkle In Time,” Candace Owens, 36, expressed serious concerns about Erika Kirk’s truthfulness. Owens stated, "What alarms me about Erika isn’t so much the fact that she lies, which we will prove to you over and over again, but it’s also the fact that I don’t know that she’s aware that she’s lying." This accusation implies a disconnect between Erika’s perception of her own past and the facts Owens claims to have uncovered.

The initial episode focuses on Erika’s claim of being raised by a single mother, a key part of her public image. Owens disputes this, saying that the single mother narrative is an oversimplified and deliberately constructed version of a more complex family history. Owens cites an investigative journalist, Elizabeth Lane, whose viral tweet questioned the authenticity of Erika’s portrayed life story. Owens acknowledged this is Lane’s opinion but based on what she calls “consistent, observable patterns of behavior.”

Candace Owens had a close relationship with Charlie Kirk before his tragic death. In a video from September 2025, Owens described him as “an amazing person,” and called him her “best friend and brother.” Owens also referenced the traumatic events surrounding Charlie’s fatal shooting at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, when he was just 31 years old.

Owens further challenges the image of Erika Kirk as “simply a grieving widow.” She accuses her of fabricating elements of her past for reasons that Owens suggests may be harmful or deceptive. After Charlie Kirk’s death, Erika took over as CEO of Turning Point USA, the organization her husband once led.

According to Owens, Erika promotes the idea that she was raised by a “strong, independent, entrepreneurial single mother,” named Lori Frantzve, who instilled Christian values in her. However, Owens alleges that Erika’s father, Kent Frantzve, was very much involved in her upbringing and even served as a stay-at-home dad for several years during her childhood.

Owens referenced a profile on Erika Kirk published by The New York Times in September 2025. In that article, Erika described the experience of being a single mother to her two children with Charlie Kirk as “actually the least traumatizing” part of her new life. She also mentioned that she was raised by a single mother after her parents divorced, calling her mother her “blueprint.”

Candace Owens argues that Erika’s public image is carefully crafted to promote the idea that one can be a successful CEO and “boss babe” while being raised by a single mother. Owens insists this portrayal is inaccurate. She claims Kent Frantzve was consistently present during Erika’s formative years, including her teenage years, and that for some period, he was the primary caregiver at home.

To support her claim, Owens played a clip from an episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, where Erika Kirk spoke warmly about her father being a stay-at-home dad when she was four years old. “And I gotta say it was really sweet. And really special. I was 4,” Erika said in the clip.

Owens also pointed out that Erika was about 10 years old when her parents divorced in 1998, and that her father remained involved throughout her childhood. Owens mentioned information from people who knew Erika during that time, including classmates and past boyfriends, to back up her assertions. She also noted that Erika had a stepfather named Larry Ginta, who was a consistent presence in her life even before her parents’ divorce was finalized.

Us Weekly has reached out to Erika Kirk and Turning Point USA for comment on these allegations but has not yet received a response.

The trailer for Owens’ investigative docuseries has sparked a mix of reactions online. Supporters of Erika Kirk have come to her defense, especially after she received a standing ovation during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday, February 24. Many accused Candace Owens of using her platform to damage Erika’s reputation unjustly.

Among critics of Owens’ claims was Ben Shapiro, who called her a “conspiratorial, evil person” during the February 24 episode of his podcast, “The Ben Shapiro Show.” This highlights the divisive nature of the controversy surrounding the personal histories of both Erika and the late Charlie Kirk.

The unfolding dispute demonstrates the challenges faced by public figures managing personal grief and public narratives, especially when under intense scrutiny from former allies and the media. As Candace Owens continues to release episodes of Bride of Charlie, more details may emerge that further complicate the public perception of Erika Kirk’s life story and leadership at Turning Point USA.