Chappelle faces backlash over Kirk joke
The comedian told his Madison Square Garden audience he felt safer after the activist's murder, drawing sharp criticism from the victim's widow and a prominent radio host.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Dave Chappelle told a crowd at Madison Square Garden on Sunday that he feels better since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The comment sparked immediate criticism from media figures and the victim's family regarding the tone of his remarks about the 2025 killing.
Chappelle acknowledged the fear of being a public speaker during his weekend show. He noted that he should not have said it publicly but expressed relief because Kirk was murdered.
Charlamagne tha God, a radio host, pushed back against the joke on Monday. He stated that he does not find humor in people being clapped and warned that any person can be shot. The host said he does not want anyone to be killed because someone disagrees with their opinion.
Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain activist, also voiced her displeasure in a post on X on Sunday. She described jokes made by comedians and commentators as beyond disgusting. She argued that political assassination should not be treated as entertainment or a punchline for the destruction of a human life.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in September 2025. A judge announced on Monday that the trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of the killing, is set to begin on June 21, 2028. Erika Kirk currently leads Turning Point USA, the organization her husband founded.
Chappelle first discussed the death in his special The Unstoppable last year. He referred to Kirk as a motherfucking internet personality and compared the two figures to Martin Luther King Jr. He said both men were shot in the neck but noted that the similarities ended there.
Chappelle has not yet responded publicly to Erika Kirk's comments. His representatives were reached for comment but had not replied as of Monday.
