Pete Davidson recently faced criticism after he made a joke about Charlie Kirk's 2025 assassination. The incident took place during Netflix's 'The Roast of Kevin Hart' on May 10, 2026.
Comedian, Pete Davidson has once again found himself in big trouble for all the wrong reasons. It began after he made a controversial joke about the late conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, during Netflix's live event, The Roast of Kevin Hart. The event featured several popular comedians and celebrities. They took sharp digs at each other, turning the weekend into one of the most entertaining on Netflix. However, Pete's comments about Charlie Kirk sparked widespread outrage on social media, especially among Turning Point USA supporters.
During the Netflix roast at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Pete Davidson made several jokes about comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. During the same time, he mentioned Charlie Kirk's death. Eventually, several internet users found his comments disturbing and insensitive. He mentioned that Tony reminded him of Charlie and kept making jokes about the late politician. Pete continued the roast with more insults aimed at Tony and a mention of his past public conflict with Kanye West. In his words:
"Tony reminds me of Charlie Kirk in that he's definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat. Kill Tony, please. Someone f****** kill Tony."
For those unaware, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a TPUSA event. The tragic incident took place at Utah Valley University in September 2025. In fact, several videos of the shooting went viral, making it a national issue. Irrespective of the political leaning, the jokes immediately triggered reactions. Several users called Pete Davidson out for crossing the line by joking about a real-life political assassination less than a year after Charlie's demise. Meanwhile, Charlie's widow, Erika Kirk, has not commented on the incident. In fact, Netflix has not issued any public statement on it.
The backlash was more from conservative commentators and Charlie Kirk's supporters. Some social media users argued that the joke normalised political violence, while others questioned how such jokes were allowed during a mainstream comedy event. Some users also pointed out that Pete's personal tragedy should have made him more sensitive towards this subject. For those unaware, his father was a New York Firefighter who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One user penned, "He graduated from SNL University. He is far left." Another user commented:
"We can fiercely disagree with Charlie Kirk's politics, rhetoric, or impact without pretending his assassination was funny or deserved. The same goes for any public figure. Lowering the bar on this invites more tragedy, not less."
Pete Davidson is one of the most popular comedians of his generation. The former Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member rose to fame through raw and deeply personal humour. He has made several popular jokes about mental health, addiction, relationships and family trauma. In the last few years, Pete expanded his work beyond stand-up comedy. He has stepped into acting, podcasting and even producing content for streaming platforms. Previously in the beginning of 2026, he had started The Pete Davidson Show on Netflix and returned to stand-up after becoming a father late in 2025.
What do you think about Pete Davidson's joke on Charlie Kirk?
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