As the one-year mark since the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk approaches, some comedians are criticizing fellow performers for making jokes and reacting to his assassination.

In May, comedian Pete Davidson made a joke about Kirk's death during Netflix's "The Roast of Kevin Hart." Davidson's remark, which stated that Tony Hinchcliffe "reminds me of Charlie Kirk in that he’s definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat," drew criticism from some.

Michael Loftus, a performer and comedy writer, told Fox News Digital that while he supports freedom of speech, jokes about someone who has been murdered are the actions of "absolute cowards." Loftus, who met Kirk years prior, described Davidson's joke as targeting someone "who is not going to punch me back" and "not in the room."

Comedian Bryan Callen noted that satire has historically served to hold those in power accountable and prevent self-importance. However, he also stated that "there’s something called good taste and compassion and things that just don’t make you laugh because somebody was killed." Callen recounted the public nature of Kirk's death, saying, "When something terrible happens publicly, and you see somebody killed in front of their children and their wife, I think we need a button that says, ‘Wait, hold on…’"

Controversy and Consequences

The joke generated backlash on social media. Separately, comedian Jimmy Kimmel faced suspension from ABC after criticizing the political reaction to Kirk's assassination and incorrectly suggesting the suspect was a MAGA supporter. However, ABC reinstated Kimmel's show less than a week later, following a controversy involving Disney, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, and the Trump administration, which raised questions about potential government and political pressure influencing comedians' speech.

More than 400 entertainment figures, including Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep, signed an ACLU-backed open letter supporting Kimmel and warning against threats to free speech. Conversely, comic book writer Gretchen Felker-Martin faced consequences for incendiary comments made about Kirk after his death, leading to the cancellation of her "Red Hood" comic series by DC Comics. The publisher cited comments that could be viewed as promoting hostility or violence as inconsistent with DC's standards.

Comedian Trevor Noah, in his commentary on Kirk's death, shifted the focus to gun control rather than the debate over censorship. The sitcom "South Park" also became part of the discussion. The show had parodied Kirk weeks before his death, and Kirk himself had embraced the joke, calling it a "badge of honor." However, following his murder, Comedy Central removed the episode from its cable rotation.

Defense of Kirk and Free Speech

Loftus also commented on what he perceived as a double standard, questioning why some comedians target religions like Christianity while avoiding jokes about Islam. He suggested that many in Hollywood who opposed Kirk's beliefs had not engaged with Kirk's own material, which Loftus described as thoughtful and well-presented.

Callen characterized Kirk as an intellectual who could engage with opposing viewpoints. He stated that Kirk believed that "If people stop talking and stop debating in good faith, very bad things happen." Callen added that Kirk reminded people that freedoms were hard-won and that while it's easy to gain a following by taking strong sides, Kirk "didn’t ignore nuance or having a discussion."

Callen further described Kirk as someone who "had the respect to read the people he disagreed with and not just read, but try to understand from their perspective." He also highlighted Kirk's deep understanding of religious texts and his ability to earn his viewpoints through research and thought, rather than just attitude.

Loftus expressed a belief that Kirk's message of common sense would ultimately prevail, emphasizing that the question is "how long is it going to take and how much suffering will it take to get there?"