Erika Kirk condemns jokes on Charlie’s assassination

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has strongly condemned making light of political violence, following a controversial routine by comedian Dave Chappelle about her husband’s assassination.

In a statement on X, Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA, described the humor as “beyond disgusting” and warned of what she called the accelerating “moral decay” of American culture.

“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,” she wrote.

“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.”

Although she did not name Chappelle in her post, her post followed his performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where fan videos captured him joking about the killing.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in an attack allegedly carried out by former student Tyler Robinson.

Her rebuke also followed a public apology by Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the I’ve Had It podcast, after they faced backlash for laughing on air at a social media joke referencing the assassination.

“You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life,” Erika Kirk stated. “This should not be so hard. Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”