‘Soulless’ Dave Chappelle Takes Jabs At Charlie Kirk During Comedy Festival

Dave Chappelle^[1] is facing major backlash after using his set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to make pointed jokes about Charlie ^[2]Kirk’^[3]s assassination and the state of free speech in America. The comedian, who has long been criticized for controversial remarks, claimed he felt freer to perform in Saudi Arabia than in his own country, sparking outrage from fans, critics, and fellow performers alike. The comments come as Chappelle continues to be a lightning rod in cultural debates, with supporters praising his boldness and detractors accusing him of hypocrisy for performing under the watchful eye of the Saudi monarchy while mocking “cancel culture” back home.

Performing before a crowd of more than 6,000, Chappelle didn’t shy away from hot-button topics.

“Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled,” he told the audience, per Variety^[4]. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out.”

The audience reportedly took notice as the comic’s set went beyond Kirk, with sharp political jokes targeting both Donald Trump^[5] and commentary on Jimmy ^[6]Kimmel’^[7]s suspension. Chappelle then doubled down on his stance about free speech abroad, saying, “It’s easier to talk here than it is in America.” He even suggested he feared reprisal in the U.S. over his criticisms of Israel’s handling of the Gaza conflict, expressing, “They’re going to do something to me so that I can’t say what I want to say.”

The set ignited immediate backlash, with critics blasting the comedian as “soulless” for performing under Saudi censorship while railing against cancel culture. “Dave Chappelle, who went to Africa to avoid his show becoming a soulless grab for a millionaire, and Dave Chappelle now are not the same guys,” one critic wrote.

Others took to X to express their disappointment, with one user writing, “Big miss by Dave Chappelle here.” Another said, “It’s easy to sell out when you don’t have any morals.”

Meanwhile, some were straight up confused by Chappelle’s comments about free speech in Saudi Arabia. “Ummmm… is there free speech in Saudi Arabia?” someone asked. “What are comics doing there? And what are they doing talking about free speech there?”

Dave Chappelle’s controversial jokes in Saudi Arabia land against the backdrop of another firestorm surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Just days earlier, former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe made headlines for an unfiltered tirade on Blue Sky that celebrated Kirk’s death in shocking terms. The outspoken athlete-turned-activist, once dubbed the NFL’s “bad boy,” posted blunt messages including, “F-ck. Charlie. Kirk,” along with mocking memes about Kirk’s final moments.^[8]

Chappelle’s decision to joke about Charlie Kirk and free speech arrives just as the entertainment world is still reeling from the headline-making suspension of Jimmy Kimmel^[9]. ABC abruptly benched the late-night host after a fiery monologue in which he accused Trump supporters of attempting to “capitalize” on Kirk’s death, suggesting they were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

The comments drew sharp rebuke from Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who accused Kimmel of trying to “directly mislead the American public” about the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Robinson’s motives remain murky, authorities note he grew up in a conservative household, while his mother told investigators he had shifted politically to the left in the past year.

Carr issued a chilling warning ahead of ABC’s suspension announcement, telling reporters, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” His remarks sparked bipartisan backlash, with Sen. Ted Cruz comparing Carr’s tone to “a mafioso.” Meanwhile, Hollywood heavyweights including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Aniston signed onto an ACLU-backed letter condemning ABC’s decision^[10] as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”

Kimmel’s nearly weeklong suspension ignited a nationwide debate over whether President Trump and his allies were exerting undue influence over broadcasters, and whether comedians, commentators, and journalists were being silenced under political pressure.