Dave Chappelle made a joke about Charlie Kirk‘s death during a show in New York. Elon Musk responded with a sharp comment on X. Musk also shared an old post where Kirk had defended Chappelle after an attack on the comedian in 2022. The contrast between Kirk’s past support and Chappelle’s current joke has become the center of a heated online argument.
The controversy started at Madison Square Garden on November 7, 2026, during Chappelle’s “Karmageddon” tour. A leaked video from the phone-free show spread quickly on social media. In the clip, Chappelle talks about the killing of the conservative activist. The comedian said he “felt better” since Kirk was murdered, while also admitting he probably should not say that in public.
What Chappelle Said On Stage
The leaked video shows Chappelle discussing the pressure public speakers face. He then turns to Kirk’s death.
“I feel f—ed up saying this. It’s scary being a public speaker. And I mean, look, ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered … and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better,” Chappelle said in the clip.
He continued with a joke about suddenly being in a good mood while driving, without understanding why at first. The crowd reacted with nervous laughter and some gasps. Chappelle also said he was “shook” by the shooting, because he also talks to crowds for a living.
Kirk’s Old Post Resurfaces
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson shared a screenshot of an old X post from Kirk. The post was from May 2022, after a man attacked Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County prosecutors decided not to charge the attacker with felonies.
Kirk’s post criticized the decision. “By refusing to charge the armed maniac who attacked Dave Chappelle on stage, George Gascon is sending a clear message that public acts of political violence are justifiable—and even encouraged—against anyone who dares speak out against The Regime. It’s Sinister & Un-American,” Kirk wrote at the time.
Johnson’s post connected the two events. “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 wrote.
Musk’s Reaction: “Shame, Shame, Shame”
Elon Musk shared Johnson’s post on November 8, 2026, and added his own comment. “Shame, shame, shame on Chappelle,” Musk wrote on X. Musk also posted again, saying “Dave Chappelle is cruel”. In another post, Musk said he no longer finds the comedian funny. “Chappelle is just not funny anymore,” he wrote.
Musk’s reaction drew attention because he has often spoken about free speech. Critics pointed out the irony of Musk criticizing a comedian for a joke while presenting himself as a free speech supporter.
Erika Kirk’s Statement
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow and the current CEO of Turning Point USA, responded strongly on X. She did not name Chappelle directly, but her message was clear.
“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.
She added that her husband was killed in an act of political violence that she and their two children will live with every day. “You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life. This should not be so hard,” she said. She also wrote that “a culture that laughs at assassination is one of profound moral decay”.
Background: Charlie Kirk’s Death
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a strong supporter of Donald Trump, was shot dead on September 10, 2025. He was 31 years old. The shooting happened during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, around 12:20 p.m. local time during a student Q&A. Tyler James Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with the killing and has pleaded not guilty.
Chappelle’s Earlier Comments About Kirk
Chappelle had spoken about Kirk’s death before. In his 2025 Netflix special “The Unstoppable,” he said he was shaken by the shooting. “If you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I’m gonna be honest, I was shook,” he said in the special. The new joke at Madison Square Garden is a sharp turn from those earlier remarks.
Other Reactions From Conservatives
Several other conservative voices joined the criticism. Piers Morgan called the joke “disgusting” and pointed out that Chappelle himself had survived an on-stage attack in 2022. “The crowd roaring with laughter at his shamefully inhumane remarks is also repellent,” Morgan wrote. Megyn Kelly called the joke “despicable”. Commentator Tim Pool wrote that “Dave Chappelle crossed a line he can’t come back from”. Fox News commentator Joe Concha said he used to be a big fan but could not understand how anyone could “feel better” about an assassination.
The Context of Chappelle’s Comedy
Chappelle has a long history of controversial jokes, especially about transgender people. Those jokes had made him a target of criticism from the left, while some conservatives defended him on free speech grounds. Kirk’s 2022 post defending Chappelle was part of that support. Chappelle himself later said he resented the Republican Party using his jokes. “I did resent that the Republican Party ran on transgender jokes. I felt that they were doing a weaponized version of what I was doing. It’s not what I was doing,” he told NPR in April.
The Wider Fallout After Kirk’s Killing
Kirk’s death led to consequences for other public figures who made comments about it. Then-MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was dismissed after suggesting Kirk had helped create the political climate that led to his assassination. ABC also took Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air for nearly a week after Kimmel delivered a monologue about reactions to Kirk’s death. The hosts of the “I’ve Had It” podcast also apologized after laughing at a social media post about Kirk’s death.
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What Chappelle Has Said Since
Chappelle has not publicly addressed the backlash to his latest comments. The “Karmageddon” tour continues, and the leaked clip has kept the story in the news cycle. The comedian has not posted a response on his social media accounts.
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