Dave Chappelle makes controversial comment about Charlie Kirk during Madison Square Garden shows
Comedian Dave Chappelle joked that he felt better after the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden, prompting laughter from the audience.
Comedian Dave Chappelle told a packed audience at Madison Square Garden that he felt "better" after the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The remark was made during back-to-back weekend shows that concluded his "Karmageddon" tour and opened the New York Comedy Festival.
"I feel f–ked up saying this. It’s scary being a public speaker… ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered … and I shouldn’t say this publicly but, I feel better," Chappelle said in a clip that circulated on X on Saturday night.
Laughter and scattered applause followed the comment. Chappelle added that he did not intend to feel that way and was surprised by his own mood. The brief video does not show what preceded or followed the statement.
The performance was advertised as phone-free, with attendees’ devices placed in sealed pouches. One attendee, Rob Henderson, wrote that he was "so happy Charlie Kirk was killed" and attributed those words to Chappelle, though the clip does not contain that line.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead on Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson has been charged with the murder. In a December Netflix special, Chappelle said the shooting had "shook" him and rejected comparisons between Kirk and Martin Luther King Jr.