Comedian Pete Davidson is facing fierce backlash after making an explicit joke referencing the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk during Netflix’s “The Roast of Kevin Hart” at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, as reported by Fox News.

During his set, Davidson targeted fellow comedian Tony Hinchcliffe with a series of crude lines.

At one point, he compared Hinchcliffe to Charlie Kirk, saying, “Tony reminds me of Charlie Kirk in that he’s definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat.”

Pete Davidson made a Charlie Kirk joke toward Tony Hinchcliffe and calls Ye a ‘gay Nazi’ during Kevin Hart’s roast. “Tony reminds me of Charlie Kirk, and that’s he’s definitely been on camera letting a guy unload in his throat. Oh you don’t know me? yeah ‘Kill Tony.’ Please… pic.twitter.com/JGmZMX2AAk

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 11, 2026

The remark, delivered just eight months after Kirk’s death, quickly provoked an online outcry. Many viewers and social media users accused Davidson of crossing a moral line given the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s killing.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, during his “American Comeback Tour.”

The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, has since appeared in court via video in connection with the fatal incident.

During the same roast set, Davidson made additional offensive jokes about Hinchcliffe, including one demanding that someone “kill Tony.”

He also mocked his own past controversies, referencing his feud with Kanye West in another crude remark.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

Us Weekly noted that Davidson’s comments about Kirk took place while he was roasting Hinchcliffe, describing the moment as a “brutal joke” shared during the Netflix special. Footage from the event quickly circulated online, adding to the growing criticism.

Reactions poured in across social media soon after the roast aired.

One user wrote on X, “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.”

Another person posted, “Pete Davidson just showed what kind of person he is. Pathetic, sick, no decency. He has a right to say it, and I have a right to criticize him and never listen to him ever again.”

A third response highlighted the comedian’s personal history, writing, “What makes this even worse is that he lost his father on 9/11.

Image Credit: Carrington Tatum - Shutterstock.com

He understands the pain of growing up without a dad, but he’s joking about a man whose children will now grow up without theirs.”

Others within conservative circles also responded.

Blake Neff, producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” addressed the joke in an X post Monday, saying, “I didn’t like it, and I’m glad the audience wasn’t into it, but there are other ‘jokes’ we’ve seen that are clearly a lot more hateful in intent than Pete’s, and a few bad-taste jokes about Charlie are the price we have to pay for how iconic he has become in American culture.”

Meanwhile, Turning Point USA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding Davidson’s controversial comments made during the roast.

Kirk’s death drew national attention last fall, sparking widespread debate about the rise of political violence in the United States.

The conservative figure had been a prominent voice within right-leaning activism and frequently appeared at events advocating for youth engagement in politics.

As of Monday, Davidson has not publicly commented on the backlash or issued any statements addressing the remarks made during the roast.

Despite the criticism, Netflix has continued streaming the special without edits, leaving viewers divided over whether the comedian’s comments fell within the boundaries of free speech or crossed into unacceptable territory.