Erika Kirk stepped into the spotlight at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards on Thursday, November 6, 2025, where she was awarded the first-ever Charlie Kirk Legacy Award.
Country star Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Kerr Aldean, presented the honor in front of a patriotic crowd. The evening was meant to honor Charlie’s memory and Erika’s new leadership role in furthering his cause — but what happened onstage ultimately stole the spotlight.
Moments after accepting the award, Erika shared hugs with both Jason and Brittany. But what should’ve been a fleeting gesture sparked a firestorm online, as the embrace — especially her hand movements — began making the rounds on social media.
‘Still Weird 😂’: Fans Zoom in on That Hug
Sharp-eyed viewers on Instagram were quick to point out how Erika’s hand landed during her hug with Brittany. One user joked, “lol she’s intentionally touching Brittany’s head so she can say – ‘see I do it to women too.’ Still weird 😂.”
Another commenter didn’t hold back, remarking, “This is not normal behaviour..🚩” Others zoomed in on Brittany’s hair, questioning whether Erika’s actions were for show. “Women don’t touch other women’s hair when they’re all done up. She MADE SURE to touch her hair…” one wrote.
Another piled on, saying, “Hmm so if another woman touched my perfectly styled hair while hugging me I wouldn’t like it and I’d find it weird. When my friends hug me they do not touch my hair and I guarantee EK doesn’t normally do that. It was performative due to criticism received for running her fingers through JD’s hair.”
A Look, a Dress, and a Firestorm of Reactions
Over on Facebook, the criticism continued to pour in. Comments included, “She made sure to put her hand in her hair” and “It’s the ‘don’t even think about it’ look.”
Not everyone saw malice — one Instagram fan offered a more tender view, “I could tell Brittany that you were trying not to cry 😢.” Attention also turned to Erika’s appearance that night, especially her figure-hugging, floor-length green sequinned dress. One viewer summed up the mood, saying, “It’s the sequinned grieving for me…”
The spectacle itself was also under fire. “They seriously had pyrotechnics for that?” one person quipped. Others focused on Brittany’s visible reaction, with one noting, “Lol the wife was all watching her,” and another adding, “Omg she’s holding back tears.”
Flashback: The Hug That Started It All
To fully grasp why Erika is now facing such public scrutiny, one must rewind to the moment that first stirred the controversy — a headline-making hug just weeks earlier.
