Comedians call out Dave Chappelle over 'disgusting' routine celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder

The backlash follows video circulating online of Chappelle's performance at Madison Square Garden, where he made remarks about Kirk's murder. 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 could be heard saying in the clip.

Chappelle 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 comedian has not yet publicly responded to the criticism.

Schneider's Open Letter

On Nov 9, actor and comedian Rob Schneider wrote an open letter to Chappelle on X, accusing the comic of abandoning the compassion and openness that once defined his comedy. "You are not the same human being you once were," Schneider said. "You are no longer a champion of compassionate freedom of thought, a person who makes people question their prejudices and preconceived judgements."

Schneider concluded by saying he still considered Chappelle a friend and expressed hope that he would rediscover what Schneider described as the "spirit of generosity and compassion that earned you the love and respect of so many of us."

Young's Disappointment

Comedian and political commentator Tim Young also called Chappelle's remarks "disgusting," pointing to Kirk's previous defense of Chappelle after an attacker assaulted the comedian onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in 2022. "It's actually extra disappointing to me that when Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage, Charlie Kirk was one of the first people and probably the biggest person on the right to defend Dave Chappelle and say that there shouldn't be any violence for speech," Young told Fox News Digital.

Young speculated that Chappelle's comments could be an effort to regain favor with the political left after years of criticism over his comedy about transgender issues. "This might be an attempt by him to get back in the good graces of the left," Young said. "I think him making fun of Charlie Kirk's murder is, again, you're performing for this other side that you may have lost a little bit of your audience from."

Industry Response

Chappelle is not the only comedian to incorporate Kirk's death into his material. Former "Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson and current cast member Michael Che have also made jokes referencing the conservative activist's killing. Davidson made a controversial joke during Netflix's "The Roast of Kevin Hart" in May, while Che referenced Kirk in his Netflix special "Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota," which premiered Oct. 13.

Kirk was murdered during an appearance at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk, has condemned jokes about political assassination, warning that such rhetoric reflects a broader cultural problem. "A culture that laughs at assassination is one of profound moral decay," she wrote on X. "It threatens the very foundation of our country and the principles that hold our democracy together."

"You do not have to agree with someone's politics to recognize the value of their life," she added. "This should not be so hard. Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, excuses, or celebrates." Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Chappelle for comment but did not receive an immediate response.