Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, issued a statement on Sunday, November 8, 2026, criticizing public figures who have made jokes regarding her husband’s 2025 assassination. Her comments followed a Saturday night performance at Madison Square Garden by comedian Dave Chappelle, who told the audience he "feel[s] better" since the activist was killed.
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September 2025 at the age of 31 while attending an event on a college campus in Utah. Following the event, Erika Kirk took over her late husband's political operations. While political figures from both major parties condemned the killing at the time, several media personalities and comedians have recently faced criticism for their commentary on the death.
During his New York City show on November 7, 2026, Chappelle said, "Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered and I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better." On Sunday, Erika Kirk posted to X, formerly Twitter, that seeing commentators and comedians treat "the destruction of a human life" as a punchline was "beyond disgusting." Podcaster Benny Johnson also criticized the remarks, describing the joke as "sick" and calling Chappelle a "scumbag" for his comments about the deceased father.
The criticism follows a separate incident earlier in the week involving Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the podcast "I’ve Had It." During an episode reviewing social media reactions to Republican midterm election results, the hosts laughed at a post suggesting the activist be "dug up" so the event could happen again. Following the broadcast, the payment platform Cash App ended its sponsorship of the podcast, stating the company does not condone violence. Welch and Sullivan subsequently issued an apology for the segment.
The incident highlights a shift in how political violence is addressed in the entertainment industry and the resulting reactions from the business sector. When Cash App withdrew its financial support, it set a precedent for how digital payment platforms and advertisers may respond to content involving deceased political figures. For listeners and viewers, this means a potential change in the type of content available on major platforms as creators weigh the risk of losing revenue against the use of specific comedic or political commentary.
Future developments will depend on whether other sponsors follow Cash App’s lead or if Dave Chappelle faces similar professional repercussions. As of November 8, 2026, representatives for Chappelle had not responded to requests for comment regarding his Madison Square Garden set. Erika Kirk stated that a culture which laughs at assassination "threatens the very foundation of our country," suggesting that political organizations may continue to press for broader standards of decorum regarding the treatment of victims of political violence.