Latest
In The NewsVideo reports & articles
Newstro / In The News
In The News

‘I’ve Had It’ Podcasters Apologize and Lose Sponsors After Laughing at Charlie Kirk Joke

Hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan apologized and donated to a gun-safety group as Cash App and Chewy dropped sponsorships.

Article
Read the story
In The News · Read the story
Default In The News section card showing stylized headline typography over newsprint background.
Default section visual · Newstro
Share this story

The podcast incident and viral backlash

Updated Nov. 7, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. Central / Nov. 8, 5:30 a.m. UTC.

Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, hosts of the popular left-leaning comedy podcast I’ve Had It, issued a formal apology and made a financial donation to a gun-violence prevention charity after facing widespread outrage over an on-air segment about the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The controversy stemmed from a post-midterm episode titled “Drinking MAGA Tears,” released earlier in the week, in which the Oklahoma City-based hosts read listener commentary. During the broadcast, Welch read a viewer submission stating, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again,” referencing Kirk’s death. Both hosts responded by laughing uncontrollably on microphone for roughly thirty seconds, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Video clips of the moment circulated widely across social media over the subsequent 48 hours, prompting swift condemnation from across the political spectrum, with critics describing the reaction as cruel and calling on corporate advertisers to sever financial relationships with the show.

Corporate exodus and advertiser responses

The backlash translated into immediate commercial consequences for the production. Several prominent corporate advertisers announced they were pulling their business from the show, TheWrap reported.

Online pet retailer Chewy stated publicly that the remarks did not align with its company standards and confirmed it would no longer advertise on the program. Luxury bedding company Boll & Branch and lifestyle brand Lola Blankets likewise confirmed cancellations of upcoming ad buys, Mediaite reported.

In response to the mounting cancellations, Welch and Sullivan published a statement acknowledging the error on Instagram: “On Thursday’s show, we laughed at a joke about Charlie Kirk. It was an insensitive joke, and we should not have laughed. We regret it, and we apologize. Whatever our political differences, there is nothing funny about gun violence. We’ve long supported common-sense gun safety reform.” The hosts stated they had made a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety and re-edited the episode to remove the exchange from podcast feeds.

Statement on X from Cash App

Payment service Cash App, one of the podcast’s longest-running brand partners, addressed user complaints directly on X on Friday, confirming it was terminating its relationship with the show.

The swift public statement capped a rapid wave of advertiser exits that industry analysts noted underscored the intensifying reputational risks brands face amid highly polarized digital political commentary.

How the controversy developed

Dates trace the release, online circulation, and advertiser reactions (all times Eastern):

  1. I’ve Had It releases the episode “Drinking MAGA Tears” to audio platforms and YouTube subscribers.
  2. Video excerpts of the hosts laughing at the viewer joke begin circulating on X and TikTok, accumulating millions of views.
  3. Online campaigns urge advertisers to cut ties; Cash App posts on X that it is no longer a sponsor.
  4. Chewy, Boll & Branch, and Lola Blankets confirm they have discontinued advertising with the show.
  5. Welch and Sullivan issue a joint public apology, remove the offending audio clip, and announce a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety.

Sources and visual credits

The Hollywood Reporter · TheWrap · Mediaite · Cash App on X.

Hero and thumbnail: default In The News section card.