Erika Kirk appears to blast Dave Chappelle over ‘disgusting’ joke about husband’s murder

Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has blasted controversial comedian Dave Chappelle over what she called a “disgusting” joke about her husband’s assassination.Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was gunned down in September 2025 at the age of 31 during an event on a college campus in Utah. While both sides of the aisle condemned the violence, some made light of or even celebrated his murder and were strongly rebuked.But that didn’t stop Chappelle, known for his unapologetically offensive jokes, from making a crack about Kirk’s assassination at a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday. “Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,” Chappelle said to laughter. Erika Kirk, who has taken over her late husband’s political operation since his death, didn’t name Chappelle specifically, but it was clear who she meant when she called out “comedians” who “laugh about political assassination” in an X post Sunday. Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has blasted controversial comedian Dave Chappelle over what she called a 'disgusting' joke about her husband’s assassination (Getty Images)“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 said.Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan from the popular progressive I’ve Had It podcast were also under fire this week for laughing at a joke about Kirk. The pair were reading social media posts reacting to Republicans’ midterm election defeat when they laughed at one that said, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again.”Welch and Sullivan issued an apology as they lost sponsorships from brands, including the payment platform Cash App, which said, “We do not condone violence of any kind.”‘Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,’ Chappelle said to laughter at a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday (Getty Images)“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 Kirk’s post continued. “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,” Erika Kirk said. “You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life. This should not be so hard.“Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”“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,” Erika Kirk said (Getty Images)Other figures of President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement that Kirk was part of also shared their outrage. Podcaster Benny Johnson said of Chappelle’s joke, “This isn’t even comedy It’s just sick.”Alec Lace called Chappelle a “scumbag.”“Dave Chapelle [sic] feels better ever since Charlie Kirk was murdered. He feels better knowing a father was taken from his kids just for having different opinions,” the podcaster wrote. “What a scumbag.”The Independent has reached out to Chappelle’s representatives for comment.