Podcast Hosts Apologize for Laughing at Charlie Kirk Joke
Welch and Sullivan issued a statement on Instagram on November 7, apologizing for laughing during Thursday’s episode of their I’ve Had It podcast at a joke about digging up Charlie Kirk and killing him again. The joke referred to the September 10, 2025, shooting of the Turning Point USA founder and came during a discussion of posts about the midterms.
The hosts said the joke was insensitive and that they should not have laughed. They also said that political differences do not make gun violence humorous, and announced a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety, which they described as the country’s largest gun-violence prevention organization. They said they would continue using their platform to promote public safety.
The apology followed criticism from Kirk supporters and the loss of several advertisers. Cash App and other advertisers were named as having withdrawn support. Chewy was also described as among the companies pulling its support, though a company representative quoted in another account said Chewy had no active relationship with the podcast and did not currently sponsor it. The hosts did not specify the donation amount.
Hosts Apologize After Backlash Over Kirk Joke
Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan apologized after laughing at a joke about Charlie Kirk’s killing on their I’ve Had It podcast, a response that came after advertisers withdrew support. On November 7, the hosts said the joke was insensitive and that they should not have laughed. Their statement also emphasized that political disagreements do not make gun violence a laughing matter.
The pair announced a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety, which they called the country’s largest gun-violence prevention organization, and said they would continue advocating for the safety of Americans. Their position reflects the public-safety stakes of gun violence prevention, even as the incident shows how quickly a moment on a political podcast can prompt a commercial backlash.
The joke, made during Thursday’s discussion of midterm-related posts, referred to digging up Kirk and doing it again. Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025. The statement came after criticism from his supporters and the loss of several advertisers, including Cash App. The apology now puts the hosts’ stated commitment to gun-safety advocacy alongside their acknowledgment that laughing at the joke was wrong.
Kirk Joke Apology Follows Advertiser Exodus
Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan apologized only after their laughter at a joke about Charlie Kirk’s killing drew public criticism and several advertisers pulled support from their I’ve Had It podcast. Their November 7 statement called the joke insensitive and said they should not have laughed, but also pivoted to gun policy by announcing a pledge of funds for the Everytown for Gun Safety group.
The hosts said there is nothing funny about gun violence and described Everytown as the nation’s largest gun-violence prevention group. Their statement addressed the issue through gun safety, while the joke itself concerned the killing of Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was shot on September 10, 2025. The distinction matters to Kirk supporters who view the incident as political violence and object to turning his death into material for a joke.
The laughter occurred during Thursday’s podcast discussion of posts about the midterms, when the hosts read a line about digging up Kirk and doing it again. The backlash was followed by advertiser departures, including Cash App and other companies. The hosts said they would continue using their platform to promote safety, but did not disclose the size of the donation.
Reported by Twitchy, Deadline.
