Conservative political commentator and Turning Point USA co‑founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September 2025 while speaking at a campus event. His death immediately became a focus of widespread speculation and conspiracy narratives online. False claims about the circumstances of the shooting and the alleged motivations behind it have circulated across social media, including baseless assertions tied to identity or ideology rather than confirmed facts.
In the wake of that misinformation environment, a fringe online phenomenon known as “transvestigating” has gained renewed attention. This term refers to a conspiracy practice in which individuals on social platforms make unsubstantiated claims that public figures are secretly transgender based solely on their appearance, often using cherry‑picked photos or speculative interpretations as “evidence.” The concept is rooted in broader gender‑related conspiracy culture, and has increasingly targeted high‑profile personalities.
Erika Kirk — Charlie Kirk’s widow and the new head of Turning Point USA — has attracted specific attention from these transvestigation communities. Accounts pushing the narrative have circulated old images of her, including from beauty pageants, with some users misgendering her and claiming her physical features are evidence of hidden gender identity. These claims rely on speculation and stereotypes, not credible information.
The transvestigating trend isn’t unique to the Kirks; similar rumors have been directed at other public figures over the years. Conspiracy‑minded groups have previously made unfounded transgender accusations about celebrities and political figures such as Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Serena Williams. These claims have been repeatedly debunked and are understood by media advocacy organizations as forms of harassment and transphobia rather than legitimate reporting.
In addition to gender‑based conspiracy content, Erika Kirk has faced a range of other false or harmful narratives online regarding her conduct after her husband’s death. Fact‑checking organizations have documented multiple rumors about her personal life that have circulated without evidence, including fabricated stories amplified on social media. These kinds of narratives highlight how quickly misinformation can spread in emotionally charged moments following high‑profile events.
Observers of digital misinformation emphasize that trends like transvestigating exploit the anonymity and speed of social platforms to amplify speculation as if it were fact. Because the assertions are not grounded in evidence, they can cause real harm — reinforcing stereotypes and fueling harassment. Experts in media literacy urge audiences to view unverified claims skeptically and to distinguish between appearance‑based speculation and reliable reporting.
