Dave Chappelle is facing criticism after joking that he feels “better” since Charlie Kirk was murdered. A short recording from the comedian’s Madison Square Garden run circulated online on November 8, drawing objections to both his remarks and the audience’s reaction.
Chappelle performed at the New York arena on November 6 and 7 as he wrapped up his Karmageddon tour. The shows were presented with Live Nation as part of the New York Comedy Festival.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder and has pleaded not guilty, according to Reuters.
The recording emerged despite a device-free policy. Madison Square Garden required attendees to secure phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices in locked Yondr pouches, which remained in their possession during the performances.
What Chappelle Said in the Circulating Madison Square Garden Clip
DAVE CHAPPELLE: “Ever since that guy Charlie Kirk got murdered, and I shouldn’t say this publicly but…. I feel better.”
Sick. https://t.co/3gp7eE8aS5
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 8, 2026
Before the punch line, Chappelle spoke about how frightening it could be to speak publicly. In the excerpt described by the New York Post, he acknowledged discomfort at expressing the thought but presented it as a feeling he had not chosen.
He expanded the joke by imagining himself driving, wondering why he was in such a good mood, then remembering Kirk’s death. Laughter and some applause can be heard in the recording.
Writer Rob Henderson, who said he attended Saturday’s performance, separately described the routine on X as Chappelle expressing happiness about Kirk’s death. His account used stronger wording than the circulating clip.
Elon Musk and Piers Morgan Criticize Chappelle’s Remarks
“Shame, shame, shame on Chappelle,” Elon Musk wrote in a response on X. The two previously shared a stage in San Francisco in December 2022, when Chappelle brought Musk out during a show and audience members booed the businessman.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan pointed to Chappelle’s own experience of being attacked while performing. He criticized both the comedian’s choice of material and the laughter it received, according to Mediaite.
Conservative commentators also objected. Benny Johnson questioned whether the remarks qualified as comedy, Meghan McCain expressed disbelief and Tim Pool said the routine had crossed a line.
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet responded with a Bible passage from John 15 about hatred and persecution. Katie Miller, meanwhile, asked whether Live Nation agreed with Chappelle’s comments, according to JFeed.
Charlie Kirk Defended Chappelle After His 2022 Onstage Attack
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.
It’s Sinister & Un-American.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 5, 2022
Kirk was criticizing then-District Attorney George Gascón’s office for declining felony charges. The attacker, Isaiah Lee, still faced prosecution: City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office filed four misdemeanor counts on May 5, 2022, according to ABC7.
Those charges covered battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the performance area and interference with a live performance.
Lee had rushed the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on May 3 and tackled Chappelle. He carried a replica handgun containing a folding knife blade, but prosecutors’ review of the footage found that the weapon was not in his hand during the tackle. Security personnel subdued Lee, and Chappelle continued the show without injury.
Critics circulated Kirk’s old post alongside the new video, pointing to his earlier defense of Chappelle after the attack. Lee later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and entering a restricted area during a live event on December 14, 2022. He was sentenced to 270 days in county jail, CNN reported, citing a city attorney’s office spokesman.
Chappelle Previously Discussed Kirk’s Killing in His Netflix Special
Chappelle addressed the assassination in Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…, released on Netflix in December 2025. Describing his reaction as someone who speaks publicly for a living, he said, “I was shook,” and joked about fears for his own safety.
The routine also rejected comparisons between Kirk and Martin Luther King Jr. Chappelle argued that their public roles were different and criticized the incentives behind provocative political commentary, according to Entertainment Weekly.
He also expressed sympathy for Kirk’s supporters, recalling his own grief when rapper Nipsey Hussle was murdered in 2019.