Tim Allen had an emotional reaction to Erika Kirk's moving speech at Charlie Kirk's funeral.
Allen, 72, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he had struggled for over six decades to forgive the drunk driver who took the life of his father, Gerald Dick, in a car accident when Allen was just 11 years old.
However, Erika’s words at her husband's memorial service resonated deeply with him, and in that moment, he was able to say, “I forgive the man who killed my father.”
Tim Allen Makes U-Turn After 60 Years
Writing candidly on X, the Toy Story star 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."
He expressed that for 60 years he had struggled to come to terms with his father being murdered.
However, after six decades, he wrote: "I forgive the man who killed my father. Peace be with you all.”
Erika Kirk’s Speech Sparks Revival, Not Revolution
Erika Kirk delivered her emotional eulogy for her late husband, Charlie Kirk, at a public memorial held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The service was attended by a large crowd, including prominent figures such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and tech mogul Elon Musk.
Through tears, Erika shared her powerful message of forgiveness.
She began: “My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.”
She then spoke directly to Charlie’s killer: “That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.”
In her speech, Erika echoed a core tenet of Christian faith, saying: “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
Erika emphasized that her husband's tragic death did not prompt “revolution,” but rather led to a “revival” in the United States, a sentiment that contrasted sharply with President Trump's speech later at the service, which was politically charged and filled with anger toward his opponents.
Erika continued: “We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival.”
Tim Allen’s Complex Relationship with Faith
Tim Allen’s deeply personal connection to Erika Kirk’s speech is rooted in his own journey with grief and faith.
Allen’s father’s sudden death in a car crash when he was just a child profoundly shaped his worldview.
In a 2006 interview, Allen recalled the devastating moment: “(He) broke his neck and died in my mom's lap right there. As many times as I'd relive this - if you haven't had a death in your family, I don't suggest it - but it certainly changes every single thing. From your cells and DNA, it turns a different color.”
For years, Allen struggled with unanswered questions about his father’s death, seeking answers from God.
In a 2012 interview, he opened up about the tumultuous relationship he had with his faith, saying: “Part of me still doesn’t trust that everything will work out all right. I knew my father was dead, but I was never satisfied with why he was dead.
"I wanted answers that minute from God. ‘Do you think this is funny? Do you think this is necessary?’ And I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with my creator ever since.”
Despite his struggles, Allen’s experience with Erika Kirk’s speech provided him with a sense of closure he had long been searching for.