Four years before his death, Charlie Kirk publicly came to Dave Chappelle’s defense. That history now sits at the center of a confrontation between the comedian and Megyn Kelly.
In May 2022, an attacker went after Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Kirk responded on social media within days.
“By refusing to charge the armed maniac who attacked Dave Chappelle on stage, George Gascon is sending a clear message that public acts of political violence are justifiable – and even encouraged – against anyone who dares speak out against The Regime,” Kirk wrote at the time. “It’s Sinister & Un-American.”
On September 10, 2025, a gunman shot Kirk in the neck as he spoke at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. He died from the wound.
Last Saturday night, Chappelle took the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City, one of the largest indoor venues in the country. The 53-year-old sold out the arena.
Organizers had billed the show as phone-free and instructed attendees to seal their devices in provided pouches that temporarily lock phones away.
A video of one moment from the set still reached the internet. In it, Chappelle brought up Kirk’s killing.
“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,” he told the crowd.
Audience members laughed and applauded as he spoke.
He continued: “I know I shouldn’t say that, but it’s just a feeling. I didn’t ask to feel this way. I just be driving around like, “Why am I in such a good mood? Oh!””
The Garden date was one of two consecutive performances that wrapped up Chappelle’s “Karmageddon” tour.
Reaction arrived quickly. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson posted on X: “When Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage, Charlie stood up for him. After Charlie was murdered in an act of political violence himself, Chappelle is joking about it.”
Kelly shared Johnson’s post and added a single word: “Despicable.”
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, posted her own response Sunday afternoon.
“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.
She also addressed her family’s loss. “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.”
Her post went on: “A culture that laughs at assassination is one of profound moral decay. It threatens the very foundation of our country and the principles that hold our democracy together.”
She closed with this: “You do not have to agree with someone’s politics to recognize the value of their life. This should not be so hard. Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates.”
On Tuesday, Kelly took up the matter on her program alongside Matt Taibbi, founder of Racket News. She described Kirk as a friend and issued Chappelle a standing offer to appear.
“I don’t want to hear another f***ing word out of Dave Chappelle on Charlie Kirk unless it’s on this show and he has the balls to say it to somebody who was actually friends with him,” Kelly said.
She then set out the terms. “You have an open invitation. You tell me the day. I will clear the schedule,” she said.
Kelly said she expects him to pass.
“You can come on here and say it directly to me. He won’t do that. He’d rather say it to his people at Madison Square Garden who don’t have the ability to fight back or the information,” she said.
Earlier in the segment, she had labeled Chappelle a “low-information voter who should shut his mouth.”
Kelly also named podcaster Jennifer Welch during the discussion. She criticized Welch for calling Kirk’s death “gun violence” instead of a “political assassination.”
Welch has faced criticism over a separate comment on her show, I’ve Had It, in which she joked about “digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again.”
The Daily Mail contacted Madison Square Garden and Chappelle for comment.
