Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA, has condemned Dave Chappelle after the comedian joked about the killing of her husband, Charlie Kirk, during a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.
During his “Karmageddon” tour stop, Chappelle addressed the pressure on public figures to say the right things before referencing Kirk’s murder.
“Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered, and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,” Chappelle said.
“I know I shouldn’t say that, built it’s just a feeling.”
Responding to this, Erika Kirk wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) that her husband “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.”
She added: “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.”
She concluded: “You do not have to agree with someone’s political to recognize the value of thei rlife. This should not be so hard. Political violence must never be somethign this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”
British broadcast Piers Morgan called the comment “disguisting, noting it was “especialy egregious given that Chappelle himself survived an attack on stage in 2022.”
Chappelle’s representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The backlash comes amid broader fallout over jokes about Kirk’s death. The hosts of “I’ve Had It” podcast apologized Saturday after laughing at a joke about Kirk, prompting sponsors including Cash App and Chewy to drop the show.
They announced a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety. Comedian Michael Che also jokes about the killing in his recent Netflix special.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The 23-year-old Tyler Robinson has been charged in his death. A judge scheduled his trial for summer 2028.
