Berliner Volks-Zeitung - Erika Kirk and Elon Musk Condemn Dave Chappelle’s Charlie Kirk Assassination Joke

Comedian Dave Chappelle is facing severe criticism from the family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and high-profile figures including Elon Musk after a clip surfaced of him making a joke about Kirk’s assassination.

The controversy stems from Chappelle’s performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, November 7. During the show, he addressed the recent death of Kirk, who was killed in September.

"Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better," Chappelle said to laughter from the audience.

The comment drew immediate condemnation from Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow. In a post on X, she did not name Chappelle directly but described the reaction of comedians and others laughing about political assassination as "beyond disgusting."

"It is beyond disgusting to see comedians and others laugh about political assassination as though it’s entertainment and the destruction of a human life is a punchline," Erika Kirk wrote.

She emphasized the lasting impact of the violence on her family, noting that she and their two children would live with the loss for the rest of their lives. She argued that a culture that laughs at assassination represents "profound moral decay" that threatens the foundation of the country and its democratic principles.

"You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life," she added. "Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates."

Elon Musk also weighed in on the controversy, sharing a post by commentator Benny Johnson that highlighted the irony of Chappelle’s remarks. Johnson had shared a screenshot of an old post by Charlie Kirk, in which Kirk had publicly condemned an incident where Chappelle was attacked by an armed individual on stage.

"When Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage, Charlie stood up for him," Johnson wrote. "After Charlie was murdered in an act of political violence himself, Chappelle is joking about it."

Musk retweeted the post with the caption, "Shame, shame, shame on Chappelle."

The backlash follows the ongoing legal proceedings regarding Kirk’s death. Charlie Kirk, 31, was allegedly shot and killed by Tyler Robinson on September 10, 2025, during a student Q&A session at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem. The shooting occurred around 12:20 pm local time.

In September, nearly a year after the incident, a judge ruled that Robinson should stand trial. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to all charges. During a preliminary hearing in July, prosecutors presented evidence to establish probable cause for the trial. The defense team contested an aggravating factor that would make the case eligible for the death penalty, arguing there was no proof that bystanders were at risk of being shot. However, Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled that the death penalty remains an option.

An attorney for the Kirk family has reportedly indicated that they intend to request a speedy trial.

H.Lange--BVZ