{"id":219144,"date":"2026-01-27T15:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/erika-kirk-slammed-for-choosing-pastor-involved-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-to-join-her-on-tour\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:28:36","slug":"erika-kirk-slammed-for-choosing-pastor-involved-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-to-join-her-on-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/erika-kirk-slammed-for-choosing-pastor-involved-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-to-join-her-on-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Erika Kirk Slammed For Choosing Pastor Involved in Child Abuse Lawsuit to Join Her on Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Erika Kirk kicked off her 30-city <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/erika-kirk-launches-tour-amid-protests-ongoing-clothing-controversy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Make Heaven Crowded Tour<\/a> in Los Angeles last week.<\/p>\n<p>And her latest media blitz is attracting controversy for a number of reasons (not the least of which is that many would like to see Erika spend more time with her kids in the wake of their father\u2019s brutal murder).<\/p>\n<p>The latest criticism has to do with Erika\u2019s decision to be joined on stage by Pastor Greg Laurie.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-1024x661.jpg\" alt=\"Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, widow of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, speaks during Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. \" class=\"wp-image-546567 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-1024x661.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-2048x1322.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-960x620.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-1080x697.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-1200x775.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251972691-1-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, widow of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, speaks during Turning Point\u2019s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Olivier Touron \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Laurie, the pastor at Harvest Church in Riverside, California, is being sued in connection with child abuse and trafficking allegations against a former pastor named Paul Havsgaard.<\/p>\n<p>Havsgaard ran church-supported children\u2019s homes from 1998 to 2008, and accusers claim that Laurie and other church officials overlooked clear signs of abuse and misconduct.<\/p>\n<p>Not surprisingly, many observers are wondering why Kirk would choose to associate herself with a man who\u2019s involved in such a scandalous legal situation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is very disturbing. What\u2019s more crazy is the crowd is full. Who would pay to see this?\u201d one social media commenter asked, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/erika-kirk-ripped-featuring-controversial-023017384.html?guccounter=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yahoo! News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"849\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-849x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Erika Kirk discusses the newly released book &quot;Stop, In The Name of God: Why Honoring The Sabbath Will Transform Your Life&quot; on &quot;Hannity&quot; at Fox News Channel Studios on December 08, 2025 in New York City.\" class=\"wp-image-546568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-849x1024.jpg 849w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-768x926.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-1698x2048.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-796x960.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-896x1080.jpg 896w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-995x1200.jpg 995w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"849\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-849x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Erika Kirk discusses the newly released book &quot;Stop, In The Name of God: Why Honoring The Sabbath Will Transform Your Life&quot; on &quot;Hannity&quot; at Fox News Channel Studios on December 08, 2025 in New York City.\" class=\"wp-image-546568 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-849x1024.jpg 849w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-768x926.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-1698x2048.jpg 1698w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-796x960.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-896x1080.jpg 896w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-995x1200.jpg 995w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2250859114-1-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erika Kirk discusses the newly released book \u201cStop, In The Name of God: Why Honoring The Sabbath Will Transform Your Life\u201d on \u201cHannity\u201d at Fox News Channel Studios on December 08, 2025 in New York City. <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cKirk will be turning in his grave with this corruption by his wife and family! Despicable,\u201d another person wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t Charlie\u2019s Turning Point. Ericka is not doing what Charlie would do, ugh,\u201d a third chimed in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnyone claiming to be a Christian and supporting this is not a Christian,\u201d a fourth added.<\/p>\n<p>Others defended Kirk, pointing out that Laurie may not have known about the abuse allegedly perpetrated by Havsgaard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeone who once worked with HCF is accused of sexual misconduct, and HCF is sued as his employer. To implicate HCF in this conduct would be like implicating the Catholic Church for the misdeeds of one priest,\u201d wrote one defender.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"C.E.O. and Chair of the Board of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk speaks onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 03, 2025 in New York City. \" class=\"wp-image-546569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"C.E.O. and Chair of the Board of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk speaks onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 03, 2025 in New York City. \" class=\"wp-image-546569 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2249838317-1-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">C.E.O. and Chair of the Board of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk speaks onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 03, 2025 in New York City. <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo by Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cSerious accusation. Post the case numbers, filings, and actual evidence, or this is just slander bait,\u201d another added.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly, this situation has ignited some heated discourse \u2014 but don\u2019t expect Erica to weigh in anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p>In a recent interview with Fox News, she revealed that she does not intend to respond to her critics on this or any other issue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf myself or Charlie spent every single second responding to every accusation, responding to every insult, every judgment, we\u2019d get nothing done,\u201d Kirk, remarked (via Yahoo!), adding that she\u2019s grateful for her haters all the same:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not gonna ask God to remove those people from life. It just makes me stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/erika-kirk-slammed-for-choosing-pastor-involved-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-to-join-her-on-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes Erika Kirk kicked off her 30-city Make Heaven Crowded Tour in Los Angeles last week. And her latest media blitz is attracting controversy for a number of reasons (not the least of which is that many would like to see Erika spend more time with her kids in the wake of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":219145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-219144","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219144\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}