Dave Chappelle sparks controversy, says he feels 'better' since Charlie Kirk's murder to applause at Madison Square Garden
Erika Kirk, the widow of the conservative activist, condemned those who turn political violence into a joke, while Elon Musk and other conservatives pointed out that the comedian himself was attacked on stage in 2022… and that Kirk defended him.
Dave Chappelle is awarded the Mark Twain Prize for Humor
The comedian Dave Chappelle has sparked intense controversy after making remarks during a show at the Madison Square Garden (MSG) that he has felt "better" since the murder of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
Erika Kirk, the conservative activist's widow, responded with a strong statement condemning those who turn political murder into entertainment, while Elon Musk and other conservative voices pointed out that Chappelle himself was the victim of an on-stage attack in 2022.
What Chappelle said and how Erika Kirk reacted
During his Karmageddon in New York, Chappelle stated: "I feel f*cked up saying this. It's scary to be a public speaker. And look, ever since that guy Charlie Kirk was killed... I shouldn't say this in public, but I feel better." The comedian added that he didn't ask to feel this way and continued, "I'm driving along and I ask myself, 'Why am I in such a good mood?'"
"I'm sure Charlie Kirk is looking down on us right now, laughing so hard he can't breathe," the comedian added.
Erika Kirk responded on Sunday on X without directly naming Chappelle, but making it clear who she was referring to: "Watching left-wing podcasters, comedians, and commentators laugh at political murder as if it were entertainment and the destruction of a human life were a joke is more than just repugnant." Kirk added that her husband was murdered in "an act of political violence" that she and her two children will live with "every day for the rest of their lives," and that "a culture that laughs at murder is one of profound moral decay."
Elon Musk and the 2022 incident
Elon Musk joined in the criticism with a blunt message: "Shame, shame, shame on Chappelle," accompanied by a post recalling how Charlie Kirk had defended the comedian after the attack he suffered on stage in 2022.
At the time, Kirk publicly criticized Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón for failing to file serious charges against Chappelle's assailant. In a post posted on X, he warned that the decision sent a clear message: "that public acts of political violence were justifiable and even encouraged against anyone who dared to speak out against the Regime," referring to the cultural and political establishment which, in his view, tolerated or encouraged attacks against those who challenged its dogmas, especially on gender issues. Kirk described the prosecutor's stance as "sinister and un-American."
Matt Walsh and the criticism of "selective empathy"
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh and other voices on the conservative spectrum have highlighted what they see as a pattern of selective empathy on Chappelle's part. Walsh pointed out that, while the comedian is now being "provocative" by joking about Charlie Kirk's death, when George Floyd "he was practically in tears," describing the event as "tragic" and "something that needed to be processed." For Walsh, Chappelle has no qualms about turning Kirk's murder into comedy material, but showed a very different level of sensitivity regarding Floyd's death.
The audience's reaction has also been the subject of criticism: in the videos, the audience can be heard laughing and applauding during the passages in question, which exacerbates the problem. Erika Kirk describes this phenomenon as a symptom of a profound moral decline that "threatens the very foundations of our country and the principles that underpin our democracy."
The pattern repeats: from Chappelle to podcasts
"It was an insensitive joke, and we shouldn't have laughed. We regret it and apologize," they wrote on Instagram, also announcing a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety.
Several podcast sponsors withdrew their financial support following the controversy—a detail that illustrates the commercial reach of the conservative backlash. Comedian Michael Che also mocked Kirk's murder in the opening of his Netflix special 'Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota,' claiming it happened because "heterosexual, Christian, conservative white men are being silenced."
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