Actor Ricky Schroder and his wife expressed disgust over what they heard while listening to podcaster Candace Owens’ recent appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show” as they traveled to support the family of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing him.
Schroder and his wife, Julie Trammel, said in an Instagram video that they were outside the courthouse in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday for the preliminary hearing involving Tyler Robinson, who was charged with fatally shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
Watch day 5 of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing here
During the drive, the couple said they listened to Owens’ July 2 appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show,” in which the former Turning Point USA (TPUSA) employee revisited claims she has made for months about the death of the organization’s founder.
Schroder asked Trammel what she thought of the episode, and she replied that she was “disgusted” by what she heard. The actor and “Silver Spoons” alum agreed with his wife’s statement.
“It’s shameful, it seems to me one day that they’ll be embarrassed of the way they’ve treated the Kirks,” Schroder said. “I mean, I know they think they’re doing the right thing, but have some decency and respect for the grieving.”
People “can have a difference of opinion” without being “mean,” Schroder added, before praying for “the trial for Charlie to go well” and that Charlie Kirk’s “murderer be held accountable.”
Authorities arrested Robinson shortly after Kirk’s fatal shooting. Since the assassination, Owens has used her podcast and other appearances to share theories about Kirk’s assassination.
During her appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show,” she repeated claims that Robinson was a “patsy” and asserted that he was never on the Utah Valley University campus on the day Kirk was killed.
Owens has also suggested that people within TPUSA betrayed Kirk and alleged the organization has participated in a cover-up surrounding his death.
Video compilations of Owens’ podcasts assembled by freelance filmmaker and video editor Nathan Livingstone also show her suggesting that Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, should be questioned by investigators and implying she may have had a role in orchestrating her husband’s murder.
Those claims have spread widely online, where numerous conspiracy theorists have echoed similar allegations and directed harassment toward Erika Kirk in the months following her husband’s death.
The online attacks became so widespread that President Donald Trump recently urged the widow to pursue legal action against those he said are jealous of her.
On Tuesday, Christian journalist and commentator Billy Hallowell also addressed the attacks against Erika Kirk, criticizing what he described as a culture that has turned “people into monsters when they’re victims” and warning against treating conspiracy theories as entertainment while a family continues to grieve.
Hallowell cited Exodus 22:20–24, Psalm 68:5 and Luke 20:47, noting that Scripture repeatedly warns against mistreating widows and exploiting their suffering.
“The Bible is pretty clear that you don’t go after widows endlessly. I don’t care if you dislike them or you think that their communication style isn’t the way you communicate, or you have some other bizarre, selfish need to have a theory out there that gets you clicks or makes you money,” the Christian commentator stated.
“There are things in life that are more important than clicks, money, and views on YouTube,” he added.
Hallowell cited decency and truth as the virtues he believes matter more than clicks and YouTube views.
“You want to ask questions, ask questions, but this goes far beyond that. This is actually demonic; it is evil, and it needs to be called out for exactly what it is,” Hallowell declared.
“And look, for everybody that is watching this, and you’re still with me, pray. Pray for Erika Kirk, her children, for the victims, for friends, loved ones, the people who are affected by this,” he said. “And you know what? Pray for the people who are spewing this garbage because they clearly need Jesus.”
“Because this is not in the spirit or heart of God; it’s the spirit and the heart of someone else,” Hallowell said.
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
