Erika Kirk reveals exactly what JD Vance whispered in her ear during 'inappropriate' hug

Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has opened up about what JD Vance said to her during an 'inappropriate' hug they shared onstage.

Erika was thrust into the spotlight after her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while speaking at a campus event in Utah on September 10.

Kirk founded far-right campaign group Turning Point USA and was known for his hardline views on topics including immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, women's reproductive rights, and gun crime.

In the wake of his death, Turning Point USA put on an enormous memorial service, featuring speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with Kirk's grieving widow Erika placed front and center of the proceedings.

But it's an event at the University of Mississippi honoring Kirk that went viral.

The pair shared an embrace onstage during a Turning Point USA event last month (Brad Vest/Getty Images)

Erika and Vance shared an awkwardly long embrace on stage last month, with some people labeling it 'inappropriate' as she put her hand on the back of his head.

Since then, Erika has appeared in an onstage interview with Megyn Kelly and revealed what the vice president actually said to her, as well as explaining why the hug was so long.

"My love language is touch, if you will … So I will give you a play-by-play," she told the crowd at the Megyn Kelly Live event on Saturday (November 22), adding: "They just played the emotional video. I'm walking over, he's walking over. I'm starting to cry."

Revealing what Vance told her, Erika said: "He says, 'I'm so proud of you.' And I say, 'God bless you,' and I touch the back of his head."

She added: "Anyone whom I have hugged that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, God bless you."

Erika Kirk has taking over as the CEO of Turning Point USA following her husband's death (Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images)

Drawing attention to the scrutiny that the moment received, Kelly joked: "They were acting like you touched the back of his a**!"

Erika replied: "I feel like I wouldn't get as much hate if I did that!"

During his speech to around 60,000 supporters, Vance would pay tribute to Charlie Kirk and to Erika, calling her a 'woman of God'.

"Charlie was so proud of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father," he said. "And he felt such gratitude for having found a woman of God with whom he could build a family."

Following her husband's death, Erika has taken over as Turning Point USA's CEO.