Erika Kirk she condemned a joke made about her husband’s death, Charles Kirkafter Dave Chappelle and other celebrities publicly mocked the accident.
“To see left-wing podcasters, actors and reporters laughing about political assassination as if it’s entertainment and the destruction of human life is a real problem, it’s more disgusting,” wrote Erika, 37, via X on Sunday, November 8, one day after Chappelle’s statement. Carmageddon standup tour wrapped up at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
On Saturday, November 7, footage of Chappelle, 53, talking about Charlie’s death in September 2025 was circulated through social media.
“I feel tired saying this. It’s scary to be a public speaker,” the actor told the crowd, via footage shared by X. “And I mean, look, since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered … I shouldn’t say this publicly, but I feel better.”
Charlie, a right-wing political activist and co-founder 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 that our two children and I will live with every day for the rest of our lives,” continued Erika, who shared two children with Charlie. “A culture that laughs at murder is one of deep moral decay. It threatens the very foundation of our country and the principles that hold our democracy together.”
Erika Kirk
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesHer statement concluded, “You don’t have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life. This shouldn’t be so hard. Political violence must not be something this country accepts, condones or celebrates.”
Chappelle, who has long expressed his political views through his comedy, had more to say about Charlie’s death while performing, acknowledging that his comments were likely to offend.
“I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling,” the actor continued. “I didn’t ask to feel this way. I just drive around, like, ‘Why am I in a good mood? Oh!'”
Dave Chappelle
Savion Washington/Getty Images for AFIErika’s comments on Chappelle’s show come after hosting the “I’ve Had It” podcast. Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan issued an apology Saturday for laughing at a joke about Charlie’s death on a Thursday, Nov. 5, podcast episode that discussed social media commentary about the recent midterm election.
“We laughed at a joke about Charlie Kirk,” the two wrote in an Instagram statement. “It was an insensitive joke, and we shouldn’t have laughed. We are sorry, and we are sorry.”
Welch, 53, and Sullivan, 55, had read the X post, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again,” which drew backlash from fans as well as several backers of the podcast who eventually withdrew their financial support.