What did Dave Chappelle say about Charlie Kirk’s death? Martin Luther King Jr. comparisons sparks backlash

Comedian Dave Chappelle aimed at the legacy of assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk in a surprise comedy special filmed in Washington, D.C. During this performance, Chappelle drew a controversial comparison between Kirk’s death and the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

In a clip from the surprise Netflix special The Unstoppable, which dropped on Friday night, December 19, and was later uploaded to X on December 20 (by user I Plead the GIF), Chappelle spoke candidly about Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at a Utah college campus in September.

While addressing the circumstances of Kirk’s death, Chappelle acknowledged that both men were killed violently, but made clear that, in his view, the parallels ended there.

“And the whites were quick to say this. They said, Charlie Kirk is this generation’s Martin Luther King. No, he’s not. Yeah, that’s a… 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,” he said.

He also contrasted King’s role as a civil rights leader with what he described as Charlie Kirk’s identity as an online figure.

Chappelle argued that Kirk’s influence was rooted in internet culture rather than grassroots activism, suggesting that this fundamental difference made any comparison to King untenable. Dave Chappelle further expanded on his criticism by commenting on what he saw as the incentives of internet-driven fame.

“Internet ni**as are negative because they have to be. Because nobody will engage them unless they say sh*t that makes them upset. That’s Charlie Kirk,” he wrote.

In another moment, Chappelle invited the audience to imagine how absurd it would have been if Martin Luther King Jr. had behaved like Charlie Kirk.

“Can you imagine if Dr. King was behaving like Charlie Kirk? Smash that like button and subscribe! Follow me for more content like that! I believe all Black people should be free, change my mind!” he remarked.

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Dave Chappelle defends his Saudi Arabia performance during his Netflix Special

Dave Chappelle (Image via Getty Images)

During the Netflix special, Dave Chappelle spoke candidly about American politics, cultural change, and the backlash he faced for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

Taking the stage in a camouflage jacket bearing Colin Kaepernick’s name and number, Dave Chappelle framed his set as a necessary homecoming.

He explained that he felt compelled to return to Washington, D.C., after former President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to the city, which he viewed as a symbolic and cultural shift. Chappelle suggested that longtime residents were being pushed out, referencing the city’s historical identity and his desire to see it before it changed beyond recognition.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about…They’re trying to take the chocolate out of Chocolate City. I said, ‘I’ve got to go home while it’s still a city I remember,’” Dave Chappelle told the crowd (As per The Hollywood Reporter)

He went on to describe his emotional state upon arriving in the capital, saying he had initially returned feeling angry and prepared for confrontation. However, he noted that driving through the city shifted his perspective, as he was struck by how orderly and polished it appeared.

Dave Chappelle then addressed the intense criticism he received for agreeing to perform in Saudi Arabia, acknowledging that he had “been getting a lot of grief” over the decision. He singled out fellow comedian Bill Maher, expressing deep frustration with what he described as Maher’s dismissive and moralizing commentary.

“I’ve been getting a lot of grief, and specifically calling out Bill Maher. I’ve never said this publicly, but f**k that guy. I’m so f**king tired of his little smug, cracker-a** commentary,” he remarked.

Chappelle argued that he did not feel guilty about the performance and rejected the idea that appearing at a Saudi comedy festival meant abandoning his principles.

Dave Chappelle explained:

“I don’t feel guilty at all…These motherf**kers act like because I did a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, I somehow betrayed my principles… They said, ‘Well, Saudi Arabia killed a journalist, and rest in peace Jamal Khashoggi…And also, look, bro, Israel’s killed 240 journalists in the last three months, so I didn’t know y’all were still counting.”

He also reiterated his long-held belief that it had become “easier to talk in Saudi Arabia” than in the United States, pointing to the near-cancellation he faced years earlier over jokes about the trans community.

Chappelle remarked that, somewhat ironically, those same transgender jokes were received very well by Saudi audiences.

Continuing in a self-deprecating tone, he joked that he no longer worked at Netflix and that his new job was to “sit by the phone and wait for them Arabs to call me,” implying both professional fallout at home and unexpected opportunity abroad.

Chappelle further cited Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension as an example of shrinking free speech in the U.S., while coyly hinting that he earned around $6 million for his appearance in Saudi appearance.

He said he would “take money from Saudi Arabia any day” if it meant having the freedom to say no to American institutions, adding that it “feels good to be free.”

He also acknowledged that Saudi citizens themselves were not afforded the same freedoms he enjoyed onstage, but maintained that he honored the agreement he was given.

“And I know that the people in Saudi Arabia can’t say all the things that I was allowed to say. But a deal’s a deal, and the king said that I could say these things. So I looked at it like I was on a diplomatic mission: I’ve gotta bring pu**y jokes to the Middle East,” Dave Chappelle remarked.

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With The Unstoppable, Dave Chappelle continues his long-standing partnership with Netflix, adding yet another title to an already extensive lineup of comedy specials released on the platform.

Over the years, the comedian had premiered more than a dozen projects with the streamer, including The Age of Spin, Deep in the Heart of Texas, and Equanimity.

Edited by Shayari Roy