DETROIT — Actor Tim Allen said Thursday that he forgives the man responsible for killing his father in a drunken driving crash six decades ago, having been inspired by the words of Charlie Kirk’s widow.
Allen, who grew up in Michigan and may be best known for voicing Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story films and for several successful TV shows including Home Improvement, shared his thoughts in a social media post. He said he was “deeply affected” by statements Erika Kirk made Sunday during a memorial for her late husband.
“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,” Allen said on X. “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.”
Allen’s father was killed in 1964, when the future star was 11 years old. In a 2021 interview on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, Allen said the death contributed to his own substance abuse issues. Allen is now more than 27 years sober.
Erika Kirk shared her message of forgiveness during a memorial held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, 11 days after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an open debate session on the campus of a Utah college.
The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with murder. Authorities have not provided a clear motive for the shooting, but said that Robinson wrote a note to his partner confessing to the crime and stating that he’d had “enough of (Kirk’s) hatred,” the Associated Press reported.
Erika Kirk, who is taking over as leader of the conservative Turning Point organization her late husband founded, said she’s taking comfort in knowing Charlie died without any regrets, according to an AP report.
Max Reinhart
The Detroit News
(TNS)
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