During Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Erika Kirk made a single, simple hand gesture that spoke volumes. In American Sign Language, that gesture meant one profound thing: “I love you.”
Yet, despite its heartfelt intent, some online voices have twisted its meaning, claiming it signaled something far darker.
Over the weekend, tens of thousands gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona—the home of the NFL’s Cardinals—to honor Charlie’s life. Among the crowd were President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and other MAGA leaders. Still, it was Erika’s tribute that captured the hearts of many.
At one poignant moment, Erika stepped up to the microphone, raised her left hand, and pointed it skyward. By doing so, she was sending a message directly to her husband in heaven. According to Lingvano, the “I love you” sign in American Sign Language is made by extending the thumb, index finger, and pinky, while folding the middle and ring fingers against the palm.
However, after the memorial, a bizarre and false claim began circulating online: some suggested that Erika’s gesture was a satanic hand sign.
The viral theory claimed she was signaling the so-called “devil horns.”
“I caught this hand sign from Erika Kirk, which is a Devil/Owl sign people use in dark meetings and rock-on concerts,” one user wrote on X, as reported by Daily Mail.
Another user expressed disbelief:
“What is happening? Erika Kirk throwing up a satanic hand symbol to end Charlie’s funeral?!?! I hope she doesn’t realize what she’s doing, but this is definitely suspicious!”
A third user added, referencing Erika standing beside President Trump:
“Sorry, I love Trump and Charlie Kirk, and I don’t want to spoil the moment. But why did Erika wait until she was next to the most famous man alive, in front of the world, at the most significant moment of her life, to throw up the devil-horned gesture?”
Supporters of Erika were quick to defend her, clarifying that the gesture was the widely recognized ASL sign for “I love you.”
“PSA: Erika Kirk’s hand sign at the end was sign language for ‘I love you,’ not a satanic symbol. Dear lord… please give me strength on this app,” one user explained.
Others reinforced the clarification:
“It’s sign language for ‘love you.’ Ignorance is exactly why people commit violence. LEARN THINGS! Don’t spew evil where none exists.”
The confusion stemmed from the gesture’s similarity to the “rock on” sign often seen at concerts, where only the index and pinky fingers are raised. The key difference, however, is the raised thumb—something Erika did, making it unmistakably the ASL sign for “I love you.”