Dave Chappelle has been criticised after saying Charlie Kirk’s assassination had made him “feel better” during a sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The 53-year-old comedian made the comments on Saturday night, in remarks captured in a clip circulating online.
“I feel f***ed up saying this. It’s scary being a public speaker,” Chappelle told the audience before referring to Kirk’s death.
“And I mean, look, ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered… and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,” he said, as members of the crowd laughed and clapped.
Chappelle added: “I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling. I didn’t ask to feel this way. I just be driving around like, ‘Why am I in such a good mood? Oh!’”
Backlash over Charlie Kirk comments
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson condemned Chappelle, saying Kirk had previously defended the comedian after he was attacked on stage.
“When Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage, Charlie stood up for him. After Charlie was murdered in an act of political violence himself, Chappelle is joking about it,” Johnson said.
Johnson was referring to a post Kirk shared in May 2022 after Chappelle was attacked during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Megyn Kelly subsequently reshared Johnson’s criticism and described Chappelle’s remarks as “Despicable.”
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, also criticised the comedian. She said it was “beyond disgusting” to see people laugh about political assassination and treat the destruction of a human life as entertainment.
“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 said.
She added: “Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”
Chappelle performed back-to-back shows to close his “Karmageddon” tour. Saturday’s performance was advertised as phone-free, with audience members told to place their devices in a provided pouch designed to lock them away temporarily.
His remarks came about a year after he said Kirk’s shooting had shocked him during his Netflix special The Unstoppable.
“If you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I’m gonna be honest, I was shook,” Chappelle said at the time.
Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder, an offence that makes him eligible for the death penalty. The 22-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
