Dave Chappelle jokes about Charlie Kirk’s assassination; here’s what the dead Turning Point USA founder’s widow Erika Kirk has to say about the comedian’s remarks

Dave Chappelle is facing criticism after he joked about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a stand-up show at Madison Square Garden. The comedian told the audience that he had felt better since Kirk’s death. His remarks later went viral online, leading to reactions from Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk. She condemned jokes about political assassination.

What did Dave Chappelle say about Charlie Kirk?

“I feel f**ed up saying this. It’s scary being a public speaker,” Chappelle said in the clip, as per the fan-recorded footage from the show later appeared on social media. He then referred to Kirk’s murder and added, “Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered, and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but, I feel better.”

The comedian continued, “I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling. I didn’t ask to feel this way.”


He then joked about driving around and wondering why he was in such a good mood before remembering Kirk’s death.

Also Read: Who is Danielle Cribb? Marine captain's profile mysteriously disappears from Navy's Blue Angels website after mentor Scott Laux's dismissal

What did Erika Kirk say about Dave Chappelle’s joke?

Erika Kirk responded to jokes about her husband’s death in a post on X on Sunday. She criticized comedians, podcasters and commentators who treat political assassination as entertainment.

“To see leftist podcasters, comedians, and commentators laugh about political assassination as though it’s entertainment and the destruction of a human life is a punchline, is beyond disgusting,” she wrote.

She also spoke about the loss her family continues to face.

“My husband, Charlie Kirk, was killed in an act of political violence, something our two children and I will live with every day for the rest of our lives,” Erika added.

She described a culture that laughs at assassination as one of “profound moral decay” and said it threatens the country’s foundations and democratic principles.

Erika also urged people to separate political disagreements from the value of a person’s life.

“You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life. This should not be so hard,” she wrote.

She ended her statement by saying political violence must never be something the country tolerates, excuses or celebrates.

Erika did not mention Chappelle by name in the post. She referred broadly to podcasters, comedians and commentators who laugh about political assassination.

Charlie Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization, was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University in Utah, according to Entertainment Weekly,.

Chappelle also discussed Kirk’s death in his Netflix stand-up special The Unstoppable. He said the killing had shaken him. However, he rejected comparisons between Kirk and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.