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Erika Kirk has condemned jokes made about the death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, after Dave Chappelle and fellow celebrities publicly mocked the tragedy.
“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, 37, wrote via X on Sunday, November 8, one day after Chappelle’s Karmageddon standup tour wrapped at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, November 7, footage of Chappelle, 53, speaking about Charlie’s September 2025 death circulated via social media.
“I feel f***ed up saying this. It’s scary being a public speaker,” the comedian told the crowd, via footage shared via X. “And I mean, look, ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered … I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better.”
Charlie, a right-wing political activist and the cofounder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
“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, who shared two children with Charlie, 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 Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Her statement concluded, “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.”
Chappelle, who has long vocalized his political views via his comedy, had more to say about Charlie’s death during his performance, acknowledging that his comments were likely to offend.
“I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling,” the comedian continued. “I didn’t ask to feel this way. I’ll just be driving around, like, ‘Why am I in such a good mood? Oh!’”
Dave Chappelle Savion Washington/Getty Images for AFI
Erika’s comments on Chappelle’s show come after “I’ve Had It” podcast hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan issued an apology on Saturday for laughing at a joke about Charlie’s death on the podcast’s Thursday, November 5, episode that discussed social media commentary about the recent midterms election.
“We laughed at a joke about Charlie Kirk,” the duo wrote in an Instagram statement. “It was an insensitive joke, and we should not have laughed. We regret it, and we apologize.”
Welch, 53, and Sullivan, 55, had read the X post, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again,” which attracted backlash from fans as well as several sponsors of the podcast who ultimately withdrew their financial support.
