Erika Kirk Calls Jokes About Husband’s Killing “Beyond Disgusting” After Chappelle Show
Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, called jokes about political assassination “beyond disgusting” in a post on X, after comedian Dave Chappelle said at Madison Square Garden he felt better since her husband was killed.
Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, said on X that jokes about her husband’s killing are “beyond disgusting,” after comedian Dave Chappelle referred to the death during a New York stand-up show.
She did not name Chappelle in her post. It followed online criticism of his set at Madison Square Garden, where he performed over two nights.
“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.
“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,” she added.
What Chappelle said
Footage from the show circulated on social media. The performance was advertised as phone-free, with devices sealed in Yondr pouches.
“It’s scary being a public speaker,” Chappelle said. “Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered, and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better.”
He went on: “I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling. I didn’t ask to feel this way.” He described driving around in a good mood and wondering why.
Chappelle is on a new stand-up tour. He has drawn criticism from both the left and right of US politics before, over comments on trans people, cancel culture and people with disability. Conservative commentators have attacked him online over the Kirk remarks.
Podcast hosts apologize
Hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan of the “I’ve Had It” podcast also faced criticism for laughing at a joke about Kirk on a recent episode. In a joint statement, they wrote that they “regret it” and “apologize.”
Erika Kirk said a culture that laughs at assassination is “one of profound moral decay.” She wrote that it “threatens the very foundation of our country and the principles that hold our democracy together.”
“You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life,” she wrote. “This should not be so hard.”
The killing and the case
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10, 2025, during a public event at Utah Valley University. He was 31.
Tyler James Robinson has been charged with his murder and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case remains before the courts.
Erika Kirk closed her post with a warning: “Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”
