Actor Tim Allen took to X this week to say he was inspired by Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, to do something that he has struggled with for over 60 years — forgive the man who killed his father.
Erika Kirk spoke at last week’s memorial in Arizona, telling those gathered she forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old leftist who is accused of killing the Turning Point USA co-founder.
“Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That young man … I forgive him,” she said. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”
Allen wrote, “When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: ‘That man… that young man… I forgive him.’ That moment deeply affected me. I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father. Peace be with you all.'”
When Erika Kirk spoke the words on the man who killed her husband: “That man… that young man… I forgive him.” That moment deeply affected me. I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: “ I forgive the man who…
— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) September 25, 2025
Allen’s father, Gerald M. Dick, died in a November 1964 car accident with a drunk driver.
“My dad had taken six kids and my mom to a Colorado football game and on the way home, middle of the afternoon, a guy swerved across the I-70,” he said during a 2006 Inside the Actors Studio interview.
Allen was not in the car, but the comedian said his father “broke his neck and died in my mom’s lap, right there.”
“I generally would have been with him. This is one of those days I went down to the neighbor’s [house],” he explained.
“If you haven’t had a death in your family, it changes every single thing … from your cells and DNA turns a different color,” Allen said. “Every single thing in my life changed. I knew the moment he was dead, he was dead, and it was not for four hours that I found out.”
Social media users were quick to offer Allen words of support — here’s a sampling of those responses, as seen on X:
May the Lord bless and heal you, Mr. Allen. Thank you for this, as well as all of your work to entertain and uplift us.
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) September 25, 2025
Forgiveness is armor.
It protects you from giving the enemy any place.— Conservative Momma (@conmomma) September 26, 2025
I have struggled for 42 years to forgive the man who killed my grandmother. I will say these words with tears forming in my eyes and my heart pounding as I type, “I forgive the man who killed my grandmother.” Peace be with you.
— Donna Walker (@CiaoBellla301) September 25, 2025
Forgiveness that raw… it shakes you.
Erika Kirk forgives her husband’s killer. Tim Allen forgives his father’s killer.
That’s not weakness. That’s strength most people can’t even imagine.— Dr. Lucien Wolfe (@LucienWolfe111) September 26, 2025
Forgiveness is for you. It doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences or you need to be nice to the perpetrator you just can’t hold onto the hate in your heart as it makes the tragedy even worse. So good for you, you can now start to heal
— Frank Grimes Jr. (@FrankGrimes_Jr) September 25, 2025
— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) September 25, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.