Was Erika Kirk on the amazing race

Checked on February 7, 2026
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Executive summary

Erika Kirk (formerly Erika Frantzve) filmed and circulated an audition tape for The Amazing Race in 2014 with then-boyfriend JT (Tyler) Massey, but multiple contemporary reports note she and Massey were not cast on the CBS competition series; her reality-TV credentials instead include a later appearance on Bravo’s Summer House [1] [2]. The resurfacing of that audition tape in 2025–2026 has generated renewed scrutiny of her past and prompted divergent readings — from straightforward reporting of a rejected audition to partisan commentary framing the clip as evidence of personal inconsistency [3] [4].

1. The concrete fact: an audition tape exists, not a season credit

Reporting across US Weekly, Times Now, Distractify and several entertainment outlets documents a 2014 audition video in which Erika (then using her maiden name) and JT Massey introduce themselves to The Amazing Race casting cameras and make playful, flirtatious remarks; those outlets explicitly say the pair “auditioned” but were not selected as contestants for the show [1] [3] [2]. Multiple outlets that republished the clip emphasize that this material is an audition submission — not proof of having been part of a broadcast season — and note the couple didn’t go on to compete on The Amazing Race [1] [2].

2. How the resurfacing shifted the narrative about her public image

When the footage resurfaced amid intense coverage of Erika Kirk following Charlie Kirk’s high-profile death and her elevation as a public figure, outlets framed it variously as “unearthed,” “resurfaced,” or “viral,” using the tape to question perceived differences between the woman on-camera in 2014 and the public persona she projects later; this framing appears in pieces from OK! Magazine, Yahoo Entertainment and the Times of India among others [4] [5] [6]. Some coverage focuses on sensational soundbites from the tape — notably the “sex sells” line — to suggest inconsistency with her later religious or “trad wife” image, while other reports simply document the existence of the audition and the fact she was not cast [5] [7].

3. Contrasting interpretations and potential agendas in reporting

The same footage is used by different outlets and commentators to serve different narratives: tabloid and entertainment sites often highlight risqué lines to attract clicks and imply a scandalous backstory [4] [8], while other pieces — including Times Now’s contextual reporting — situate the audition within a longer timeline of Erika’s early pageant days, summer-house reality TV work, and claimed volunteerism, and also note supporters’ complaints about disproportionate scrutiny given her recent public role [3]. Readers should note that political or ideological agendas can shape which frames get amplified: some critics use the tape to impugn authenticity, while sympathetic coverage stresses it as an artifact of youthing audition culture and not disqualifying of later personal transformation [3] [2].

4. What the sources do and do not establish

The assembled reporting establishes two clear points: that Erika Frantzve appeared in a 2014 Amazing Race audition submission with JT Massey, and that she was not cast on the series [1] [2]. What the sources do not provide are internal casting records from CBS or an official casting statement confirming rejection; outlets rely on the tape itself and on absence of a broadcast credit to conclude the pair were not contestants [1] [2]. Additionally, while some sources weave the tape into broader arguments about character or credibility, those more interpretive claims extend beyond the basic factual record and reflect editorial position rather than a documented change in status [4] [5].

5. Bottom line and how this matters to the question asked

Answering the direct question succinctly: Erika Kirk auditioned for The Amazing Race in 2014, appearing in an audition tape with JT Massey, but she did not appear as a contestant on the televised Amazing Race series; her later reality-TV credit is on Bravo’s Summer House rather than CBS’s race competition [1] [2]. The resurfaced tape has been repurposed in different outlets to serve entertainment-driven or politically tinged narratives, so distinguishing the verifiable audition-from-casting outcome from editorial spin is essential when assessing the clip’s significance [4] [3].

Want to dive deeper?
Did Erika Kirk appear on Bravo’s Summer House and what season was she on?
How do entertainment outlets differ in framing resurfaced audition tapes versus official casting credits?
What is known about JT (Tyler) Massey’s public profile and relationship timeline with Erika Frantzve?