Dave Chappelle has once again addressed the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
In his latest Netflix special, “The Unstoppable,” released on December 20, the 52-year-old comedian refers to Kirk as both an “internet personality” and “a wholesome white guy,” expressing the shock over his unexpected death, according to USA Today.
Chappelle remarked, “This is yet another reason why it’s challenging to speak freely in America. Witnessing Charlie Kirk’s murder was truly unsettling,” during the 75-minute special.
On September 10, Kirk, aged 31, was shot and killed while delivering a speech at a Utah college campus.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with several crimes, including aggravated murder, in connection with the death of the Turning Point USA founder.
Chappelle, who had previously commented on Kirk’s death at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia last October, also mentioned initial reports that claimed the bullets used in the shooting bore transgender-themed inscriptions—claims that were subsequently retracted, as reported by CNN.
Dave Chappelle called Kirk ‘an internet personality’ and ‘a wholesome white guy’ whose death was shocking in his new Netflix special The Unstoppable; pictured in his 2021 film The Closer
The stand-up comic said, ‘If you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I’m gonna be honest, I was shook’; Kirk pictured on September 10 before he was fatally shot
The comic made light that he, too, could be a target, per Entertainment Weekly.
He was, of course, referencing anti-transgender remarks he’s made in the past,
‘When all the information was still shoddy, they came out, they were like, “Apparently there were transgender messages inscribed on the bullet.” I was like, “Oh no! I’m dead as fried chicken!”‘
The stand-up comic then trounced on comparisons of Kirk to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who was assassinated by a sniper’s gunshot in 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
‘And the whites were quick to say this. They said, “Charlie Kirk is this generation’s Martin Luther King.” No, he’s not,’ Chappelle said.
He added: ‘That’s a reach. You know, they both got murdered in a terrible fashion, they both got shot in the neck, but that’s about where those similarities end.’
Chappelle continued: ‘Charlie Kirk is a mother—in’ internet personality. By design, fundamentally, he can’t function like Dr. King. Internet n—-s are negative because they have to be, ’cause nobody will engage them unless they say s— that makes them upset. That’s Charlie Kirk.’
Then he quizzed the crowd by asking: ‘Could you imagine if Dr. King was behaving like Charlie Kirk? “Smash that like button and subscribe! Follow me for more content like this! I believe all Black people should be free — change my mind.”‘
Join the debate
What does Dave Chappelle’s take on Charlie Kirk’s assassination say about comedy and free speech today?
Chappelle’s new comedy special dropped on Friday, December 20
The comedian trounced on comparisons of Kirk to civil rights leader Martin Luther King; Kirk pictured on September 10 at a visit to Utah Valley University where he was fatally shot by alleged suspect Tyler Robinson
Chappelle also took a jab at Kirk during his October 1 set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia; pictured January 14 during promos for his hosting gig on SNL
The stand-up comic’s Netflix special also addresses the performance in Saudi Arabia, plus American politics, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal troubles, censorship and ‘cancel culture,’ and the Israel and Palestine conflict
This isn’t the first time Chappelle has taken pointed jabs at Kirk’s assassination.
On October 1, the four-time SNL host used his set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia to pick on Kirk.
‘Right now, in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled,’ Chappelle told the 6,000-strong crowd, according to Variety.
‘I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out.’
Chappelle’s Netflix special also addresses the performance in Saudi Arabia, plus American politics and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal troubles, censorship and ‘cancel culture,’ and the Israel and Palestine conflict.
