Debunking the Viral Image of Erika Kirk and VP Vance on a Coffin

An AI-generated image purportedly showing Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, embracing Vice President JD Vance while standing on a coffin has spread widely across social media platforms in recent days. Fact-checkers have confirmed the image is entirely fabricated.

The manipulated photo began circulating in early November 2025 across multiple platforms, including X, Threads, Reddit, and Facebook, garnering thousands of shares and comments. The image depicts what appears to be an emotional embrace between Kirk and Vance at a political event, with Kirk standing atop what looks like a coffin on stage.

Digital forensics experts identified several telltale signs of AI generation in the image. The text elements contain notable errors, including an extra “E” at the end of “president” in the introductory text and the absence of the word “Vice” before Vance’s title. The Turning Point USA logo in the fabricated image lacks the distinctive arrow present in the organization’s authentic branding. Additionally, enlarging the Fox News logo reveals garbled text in the word “channel” – a common artifact in AI-generated imagery.

The fabricated image appears to have originated from Facebook user Tom Adelsbach, who also operates under the handle @PaulleyTicks on X. Adelsbach’s earliest post of the image included a disclaimer stating “Digitally altered photo #parody,” and his social media profiles clearly indicate his content is satirical, with a bio reading “Changing the world by any ‘memes’ necessary.”

The false image appropriates and distorts a genuine moment between Kirk and Vance that occurred during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on October 29, 2025. Video footage from that event shows the two briefly embracing during their appearance, but no coffin was present on stage. The actual event took place in a conventional speaking venue with standard political event staging.

This fabrication comes amid a flurry of unsubstantiated rumors regarding Erika Kirk and Vice President Vance that have intensified since Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025. Social media speculation about a purported romantic relationship between the two has circulated without credible evidence, particularly after their public appearance together at the October event.

Media literacy experts warn this case represents a growing trend of AI-generated imagery being used to create false narratives around public figures. “The technology to create convincing fake images is becoming increasingly accessible,” said Dr. Eleanor Simmons, professor of digital media studies at Georgetown University. “What’s concerning is how quickly these fabrications spread, even when they contain obvious errors that would be caught by careful observation.”

The incident highlights the challenges social media platforms face in addressing manipulated content, especially when it originates from accounts that label their content as parody but see their creations shared without context by other users.

Facebook, X, and other platforms have implemented varying policies regarding AI-generated content, though enforcement remains inconsistent. Media experts recommend that users approach emotionally charged or politically divisive images with heightened scrutiny, particularly during times of political tension.

As digital manipulation tools continue to advance, the responsibility falls increasingly on both platforms and users to verify content before sharing and to maintain awareness of common signs of AI generation in images circulating online.