Nov. 9, 2026, 4:45 PM EST / Updated Nov. 9, 2026, 5:08 PM EST
Hours after Dave Chappelle made light of right wing provocateur Charlie Kirk’s slaying, his widow on Sunday lashed out at “podcasters, comedians, and commentators” laughing “about political assassination.”
Erika Kirk, CEO of youth-focused conservative group Turning Point USA, said this kind of humor is “beyond disgusting” and she fears for the “moral decay” of America.
“To see leftist podcasters, comedians, and commentators laugh about political assassination as though it’s <a href="https://comicvibe.com/webtoon-<a href="https://comicvibe.com/are-consumer-discretionary-stocks-lagging-accel-entertainment-acel-this-year/” title=”Are Consumer Discretionary Stocks Lagging Accel Entertainment (ACEL) This Year?”>entertainment-inc-reports-third-quarter-2026-financial-results/” title=”WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results”>entertainment and the destruction of a human life is a punchline, is beyond disgusting,” she posted.
“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. A culture that laughs at assassination is one of profound moral decay.”
While Kirk didn’t mention Chappelle by name, her comments came after his gig Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered, and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,” Chappelle said, according to fan videos of the show circulating online, which drew a smattering of uncomfortable chuckles from the stunned room.
In another clip from Madison Square Garden that’s making the rounds, Chappelle said, “I’m sure Charlie Kirk is looking up at us right now, laughing so hard he can’t breathe.”
Erika Kirk’s denunciation also comes in the wake of an apology from the hosts of the “I’ve Had It” podcast for making light of the assassination.
“On Thursday’s show, we laughed at a joke about Charlie Kirk,” Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan said in a joint statement on Saturday. “It was an insensitive joke, and we should not have laughed. We regret it, and we apologize.”
On the episode in question, Welch and Sullivan were reading social media posts about the 2026 midterm elections and laughed at one that read, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again.”
Charlie Kirk, 31, was gunned down on Sept. 10 last year during an outdoor speaking appearance at Utah Valley University. Former UVU student Tyler Robinson standsaccused of the slaying.
“You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life,” Erika Kirk said on Sunday. “This should not be so hard. Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”
Before the Kirk comment, Chappelle had beenembraced by some conservatives for his years ofmocking the transgender community.
That goodwill has likely come to an end.
“Chappelle is just not funny anymore,” conservative mega-donor Elon Musk posted to Xon Sunday night. Reacting to one of the Madison Square Garden clips, Musk wrote, “Dave Chappelle is cruel.”
A representative for Chappelle did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
