Chelsea Handler<\/strong><\/a> made reference to Turning Point USA during her 2026 Critics Choice Awards<\/a> wrap.<\/p>\n Handler, 50, concluded her hosting duties on Sunday, January 4, by rolling out a series of acknowledgements that included a nod to the nonprofit organization originally founded by the late Charlie Kirk<\/strong><\/a> and now run by his widow, Erika Kirk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would like to thank the critics, the crew, the E! Network and Turning Point USA,\u201d the comedian, who held a near-empty glass in her hand, said before flashing a wide grin. \u201cGood night.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning Point USA was created by the former political activist in 2012 to advocate for conservative politics throughout high school, college and university campuses. Erika, 37, took over as CEO and chairwoman of the company in September 2025, just days after Charlie was assassinated<\/a> at the age of 31.<\/p>\n Last month, Erika engaged in a full week of TV appearances on Fox News as she promoted Charlie\u2019s posthumous book, Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life<\/em>. More recently, Erika also appeared at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, where she brought surprise guest Nicki Minaj<\/strong> onto the stage for a sit down interview on December 21, 2025.<\/p>\n During Sunday\u2019s Critics Choice Awards, Handler, who has publicly voiced her political viewpoints for many years, also poked fun at Minaj, 43, in light of the musician\u2019s AmericaFest 2026 appearance. Handler said during her opening monologue jab that she hadn\u2019t \u201cbeen invited to a Black person\u2019s house since [the film] Sinners<\/em>,\u201d before noting that the \u201conly person who has invited me is Nicki Minaj, but who wants to go over there?\u201d<\/p>\n Turning Point USA has been in the spotlight considerably in the wake of Charlie\u2019s death at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Much of the attention can be attributed to Erika\u2019s public appearances.<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n As Erika continues to mourn her late husband, she has offered public glimpses into how her family is coping<\/a> without Charlie, including the fact that her 3-year-old daughter \u201ccan\u2019t wait\u201d to go to heaven. Erika said during a December 8 appearance on Fox News\u2019 Hannity<\/em> that she and her daughter have discussed where they believe Charlie rests today. (Erika shared two children with Charlie: a daughter, born in 2022, and a son, born in 2024. Their names have never been publicly confirmed.)<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve come to the understanding, and I\u2019ve tried to explain this to her, that Daddy\u2019s still with us, he\u2019s just in a different location and he\u2019s building us a home in heaven,\u201d Erika said on the show. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve said this before, but she said, \u2018I can\u2019t wait to go.\u2019 I said, \u201cMe too, baby.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n During a December 13 town hall on CBS News<\/em>, Erika also detailed her significant struggles in the days that followed Charlie\u2019s death. \u201cIt took me months to even walk into my bedroom,\u201d Erika detailed before revealing she was sleeping<\/a> in her daughter\u2019s bed instead. \u201cI can\u2019t sleep, I\u2019m on my phone, and I start typing out [a speech].\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Chelsea Handler<\/span> Kevin Winter\/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
![\"GettyImages-2234109280-Kirk.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2234109280-Kirk.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Charlie Kirk<\/span> Benjamin Hanson \/ Middle East Images via AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n