Comedian Dave Chappelle is facing significant criticism for remarks made during a recent performance, where he stated he "feels better" following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The comments were delivered Saturday night at a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden as part of his "Karmageddon" tour.
Despite the venue's policy against phone usage, video clips of Chappelle's statement were disseminated on social media platforms. According to one widely shared video, Chappelle said, "Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered — and I shouldn’t say this publicly — but I feel better... I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling."
The remarks drew immediate condemnation, with British broadcaster Piers Morgan describing the comment as "disgusting" and "especially egregious" given Chappelle's own experience with an on-stage attack in 2022. Representatives for Chappelle did not immediately provide a comment.
Chappelle is not the only public figure to have faced scrutiny for comments related to Kirk's death. Hosts of the "I've Had It" podcast issued an apology on Saturday after laughing at a joke about Kirk during a recent episode. Jennifer Welch and Angie "Pumps" Sullivan reportedly reacted humorously to a social media post that read, "we’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again." This incident led to the withdrawal of several advertisers, including Cash App.
In their apology, the podcast hosts stated, "It was an insensitive joke, and we should not have laughed. We regret it, and we apologize." They also announced a donation to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety. Separately, comedian Michael Che addressed Kirk's murder in his recent Netflix special, suggesting it occurred because "straight white conservative Christian men are being silenced." Che defended his approach in an interview with The Times, expressing a desire for audiences to "laugh at the things that horrify you."
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, appeared to respond to these recent public reactions, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that witnessing "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 further asserted, "A culture that laughs at assassination is one of profound moral decay. It threatens the very foundation of our country and the principles that hold our democracy together."
Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative political organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in September 2025 while speaking at a college event in Utah. Tyler Robinson of Utah has been charged in connection with his death.
