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Chelsea Handler made reference to Turning Point USA during her 2026 Critics Choice Awards wrap.
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 and now run by his widow, Erika Kirk.
“We would like to thank the critics, the crew, the E! Network and Turning Point USA,” the comedian, who held a near-empty glass in her hand, said before flashing a wide grin. “Good night.”
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 at the age of 31.
Last month, Erika engaged in a full week of TV appearances on Fox News as she promoted Charlie’s posthumous book, Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life. More recently, Erika also appeared at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, where she brought surprise guest Nicki Minaj onto the stage for a sit down interview on December 21, 2025.
During Sunday’s 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’s AmericaFest 2026 appearance. Handler said during her opening monologue jab that she hadn’t “been invited to a Black person’s house since [the film] Sinners,” before noting that the “only person who has invited me is Nicki Minaj, but who wants to go over there?”
Chelsea Handler Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
Turning Point USA has been in the spotlight considerably in the wake of Charlie’s death at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Much of the attention can be attributed to Erika’s public appearances.
As Erika continues to mourn her late husband, she has offered public glimpses into how her family is coping without Charlie, including the fact that her 3-year-old daughter “can’t wait” to go to heaven. Erika said during a December 8 appearance on Fox News’ Hannity 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.)
Charlie Kirk Benjamin Hanson / Middle East Images via AFP
“We’ve come to the understanding, and I’ve tried to explain this to her, that Daddy’s still with us, he’s just in a different location and he’s building us a home in heaven,” Erika said on the show. “And I’ve said this before, but she said, ‘I can’t wait to go.’ I said, “Me too, baby.’”
During a December 13 town hall on CBS News, Erika also detailed her significant struggles in the days that followed Charlie’s death. “It took me months to even walk into my bedroom,” Erika detailed before revealing she was sleeping in her daughter’s bed instead. “I can’t sleep, I’m on my phone, and I start typing out [a speech].”
