3 minSociety
Andrew Kolvet criticizes Jennifer Welch and Dave Chappelle over mockery of Charlie Kirk's killing
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet has condemned podcast host Jennifer Welch and comedian Dave Chappelle for jokes about the killing of Charlie Kirk, as sponsors pulled ads and the hosts issued an apology.
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet has publicly criticized podcast host Jennifer Welch and comedian Dave Chappelle after a segment in which the hosts laughed while reading a post that mocked the killing of Charlie Kirk. Kolvet said the remarks were hurtful and called Chappelle's comments on the subject "crazy."
The controversy began when Welch and co-host Sullivan laughed while reading aloud a social media post that made light of Kirk's death. The remark came during 2026 midterm celebrations, and it drew swift backlash from listeners and commentators. Several sponsors subsequently pulled their advertising from the show, and the hosts issued an apology. Welch later said the apology was made for themselves rather than for their critics, a distinction that did little to quiet the criticism.
Kolvet said he is not behind the boycott that has pressured the program's advertisers, describing it instead as a grassroots reaction. He said brands have every right to distance themselves from a show whose content they find objectionable, and he framed the advertisers' decisions as their own to make rather than the result of any campaign by his organization. Kolvet added that he would be willing to speak with Welch privately, though he said such a conversation would not be for content or public consumption.
Kolvet also addressed Chappelle's remarks about Kirk, which he characterized as going too far. He pointed to the response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan as a precedent for how public figures have historically reacted to attacks on political leaders, suggesting that the current tone falls short of that standard. He noted that Kirk had defended Chappelle in 2022, after the comedian was attacked during an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, a detail that gives the dispute a personal dimension for the Turning Point USA leadership.
The exchange highlights a recurring pattern in the current media environment, in which comments about political violence draw intense reactions from across the spectrum. Kolvet's remarks place the organization on record as opposing the jokes, while distinguishing between sponsor decisions it does not control and private discussions it says it is willing to pursue. The hosts' apology and the advertiser withdrawals have so far not produced a public resolution between the two sides.
Source: foxnews.com
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