The comedian’s remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA’s founder circulated widely on social media following his Friday performance in New York City, drawing renewed attention to his controversial commentary about the conservative activist.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
NEW YORK — Comedian Dave Chappelle told an audience at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Nov. 6, that he has felt happier since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, making the remarks during a stand-up performance that subsequently attracted widespread attention on social media.
Chappelle, 52, made the comments during his Karmageddon comedy tour, which included performances at the Manhattan arena Friday and Saturday as part of the New York Comedy Festival.
In a video circulated on X, Chappelle acknowledged that his reaction to Kirk’s death was something he felt uncomfortable expressing publicly.
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“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 told the audience.
He continued by describing the feeling as an unexpected improvement in his mood following Kirk’s death.
“I know I shouldn’t say that but, it’s just a feeling,” Chappelle said. “I didn’t ask to feel this way. I just be driving around like, ‘why am I in such a good mood? Oh!’”
The remarks prompted laughter and some applause from the audience, according to Breitbart News’ coverage of the performance. A recording of the exchange began circulating Friday night and gained wider attention Saturday.
Chappelle’s comments came nearly 14 months after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was participating in his American Comeback Tour, which featured political discussions and debates with students on college campuses.
Tyler Robinson, 23, was subsequently arrested and charged with Kirk’s murder. Prosecutors have pursued the death penalty, and the criminal proceedings remain ongoing.
Chappelle’s remarks also followed previous public commentary about Kirk’s assassination. In his December 2025 Netflix comedy special, The Unstoppable, Chappelle discussed the killing and acknowledged being disturbed by the circumstances surrounding it.
“If you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I’ll be honest, I was shook,” Chappelle said during that performance, according to Entertainment Weekly’s coverage of the special.
During the same special, Chappelle rejected comparisons between Kirk and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., arguing that the two men had fundamentally different public roles and messages.
His earlier remarks emphasized the risks associated with public speaking following Kirk’s assassination, while his latest performance introduced a different perspective on the conservative activist’s death.
Chappelle has built much of his comedy career around political commentary, social controversies and subjects involving race, religion and freedom of expression. His performances frequently address contentious public issues and have generated both criticism and support.
The comedian has also personally experienced violence during a live performance.
In May 2022, a man rushed the stage and attacked Chappelle during a comedy show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Police subsequently reported that the suspect was carrying a replica handgun equipped with a retractable knife blade.
Chappelle was not seriously injured and continued performing after the incident.
The latest controversy coincided with criticism directed at another political comedy podcast over remarks concerning Kirk’s assassination.
Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the I’ve Had It podcast, issued an apology Saturday after laughing at a social media post joking about exhuming Kirk’s body and killing him again.
Several advertisers subsequently announced they were ending or would not continue sponsorship relationships with the podcast. Welch and Sullivan also announced a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety.
The two incidents occurred during a period of heightened political commentary following the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when Democrats captured control of Congress and won several competitive statewide contests.
Chappelle’s Madison Square Garden appearances were scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7 through the New York Comedy Festival and Live Nation.
The performances were advertised as device-free events, with attendees required to secure phones, cameras and other recording equipment in locked pouches during the shows.
Neither the New York Comedy Festival nor Live Nation had publicly addressed Chappelle’s remarks as of Sunday morning, according to Breitbart News.
Chappelle has not issued a separate public statement clarifying his comments or responding to the criticism surrounding the circulating video.
His remarks have nevertheless renewed discussion about political violence and the boundaries of comedy, particularly when public figures address the assassination of individuals whose political views they oppose.
Original article
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