Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika have unexpectedly become the latest targets of a strange online movement pushing conspiracy theories about public figures.
What began as fringe internet chatter has snowballed into coordinated posts across x (formerly Twitter), Facebook groups, and niche forums, with users now claiming that both the conservative commentator and his wife fit their bizarre criteria for hidden identities.
Kirk, known best as the founder of the right-wing nonprofit Turning Point USA, was killed on September 10 during a live debate event at Utah Valley University.
His death shocked conservative circles and triggered widespread coverage, not only because of his political influence but because of the dramatic way he died.
The 31-year-old was answering a question when a single bullet struck his neck, fired from a rooftop nearby.
Authorities later named 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspected gunman. He faces an aggravated murder charge, alongside accusations which include witness tampering, obstruction of justice.
Robinson is due for his first in-person court appearance in January.
Attention shifted to Charlie Kirk’s wife following his death
In the aftermath of his death, attention shifted to Kirk’s widow, Erika.
The couple share two children, and following his death she took over leadership of Turning Point USA, stepping into a role that immediately placed her at the center of political attention.
Since then, she has appeared in the Oval Office alongside Donald Trump, spoken publicly with Vice President JD Vance, and become a prominent face at conservative events and fundraisers.
And with that increased visibility came a new wave of online fixation, including claims from conspiracy-driven accounts that Erika is part of a hidden agenda being concealed by powerful institutions.
‘Online investigators’ think Erika Kirk is transgender
Screenshots circulating this week show posts from a Facebook group with more than 53,000 members called ‘Transvestigation Disclosure NOW.’
Users inside the group posted pageant-era photos of Erika from when she competed in Miss Arizona, claiming her jawline, body shape, and collarbone structure were signs she is secretly transgender, offering no legitimate evidence beyond personal judgment of her appearance.
Others went further, suggesting that pageant winners and models in general are mostly trans women.
One commenter claimed: “That is a man, as most pageant winners are.”
Another wrote: “Of course almost all models, especially agent models and Victoria secret models are mostly [trans women].”
A different user even argued that Kirk’s appearance was proof of the conspiracy, writing: “Yup that’s why Charlie Kirk seemed so feminine and emasculated because she was a transgender handler.
“That’s why he was so pretty.”
What is ‘transvestigating’ and how did it emerge?
‘Transvestigating’ refers to an online conspiracy movement where people attempt to ‘expose’ politicians, celebrities, athletes, and other public figures as transgender, framing it as something hidden, deceptive, and socially dangerous.
Targets have included Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama and Serena Williams, with the fixation skewing heavily toward women.
The ideology behind the theory frames being transgender as a shameful secret to uncover and often involves anti-trans sentiment disguised as citizen-led investigation.
It first began spreading in early 2017, especially on YouTube, later expanding across platforms as anti-trans rhetoric intensified in mainstream politics.
Though the posts have gained traction inside certain online spaces, they rely heavily on pseudo-scientific image comparisons, body analysis, and vague references to supposed Hollywood and political coverups.
Some variations of the theory go further into outright antisemitism, alleging that Jewish power structures are responsible for secretly placing transgender public figures into global culture.
Despite the confidence of believers, none of these claims are supported by credible evidence or scientific research.
Anyone can become a target
With Erika now added to the list, the theory has shifted its focus to a recently widowed public figure who, until recently, was not widely known outside conservative circles.
Whether the movement will continue targeting her long-term or move on to a new subject remains to be seen, but the pattern appears consistent: anyone can become a target, as long as strangers with a theory decide they should be.
