Pete Davidson faced mixed reactions after making a shocking joke about the late Charlie Kirk during Netflix’s “The Roast Of Kevin Hart.”
The remark was made Sunday and was aimed at fellow comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Social media erupted almost immediately afterward, with critics blasting Davidson for dragging Kirk into the bit and accusing him of crossing a line. Others defended the comedian by pointing to the no-holds-barred nature of roast comedy, sparking a fierce debate across X and other platforms. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10, 2025 at Utah Valley University speaking event.
“Tony Hinchcliffe’s here looking like both a child molester and the doll they give the child to show where he touched them,” Davidson began in a segment that can be viewed here. “Tony reminds me of Charlie Kirk, in that he’s definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat.”
Pete Davidson Makes Shocking Charlie Kirk Joke at Kevin Hart Roast https://t.co/bK46r379rr
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 11, 2026
Davidson didn’t stop there. “Oh, you don’t know me? Yeah. Yeah. Kill Tony! Please. Someone fucking kill Tony!” he said, making reference to Hinchcliffe’s podcast, “Kill Tony.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 20: Charlie Kirk speaks onstage during Politicon 2018 at Los Angeles Convention Center on October 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Politicon)
He continued lacing into Hinchcliffe.
“Tony, nothing you say tonight will hurt my feelings. I was in a beef with Kanye, so I’ve taken shots from better gay Nazis.”
He eventually turned his attention to roasting Hart, but his comments about Kirk continued circulating online.
“By design the jokes at roasts are extremely brutal, and no person or group is safe from mockery. If you don’t like that (which I 100% get), don’t watch it,” one person wrote on X.
“And people are actually cheering that joke. What sick fucks they are. Pure evil,” a social media user said.
Another person wrote, “Bruh that Charlie Kirk joint was savage.”
“Pete Davidson was disgusting talking about Charlie Kirk. Absolutely disgraceful. He is the most vile person,” another said.
People were quick to condemn the content, as well as the timing of Davidson’s jabs. (RELATED: ‘Not F*cking Apologizing’: Amanda Seyfried Defends Calling Charlie Kirk ‘Hateful’)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 17: Pete Davidson spotted sporting an ‘I ❤ Mayo Cat’ shirt in Brooklyn as he steps out for coffee on November 17, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Hellmann’s)
“That’s definitely a controversial roast, mixing political figures, extreme references, and personal insults is bound to spark backlash. Comedy or not, this kind of material tends to blur the line between satire and unnecessary escalation,” another wrote.
Other comments included, “He crossed the line. He has to suffer,” and “Anything goes in comedy, but this ain’t it. Charlie was murdered just 8 months ago and we wonder why people have become so desensitized to political violence.”