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Something ugly unfolded online recently when a short clip from the left-leaning podcast I’ve Had It showed the hosts laughing at a social post about “digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again.” The laughter touched a raw nerve. The clip went viral, advertisers pulled back fast, the hosts apologized and made a donation, and the internet promptly boxed up the drama into another round of cancel-culture theater.
What happened on the I’ve Had It podcast — and who responded
A roughly 39-second excerpt from an episode circulated showing hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan laughing while reading a post that referenced the killing of Charlie Kirk. The segment was later removed from the episode, but copies spread far and wide. The hosts issued a joint apology saying the laugh was “insensitive” and that they “regret it,” and they reported making a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety. Major advertisers moved quickly. Cash App and Chewy publicly said they are no longer sponsors, and reporting counted roughly nine advertisers who either paused or ended placements as the clip blew up online.
Why advertisers pulled: brand safety and pressure
From the ad buyers’ side this is simple brand safety. Companies do not want to be tied to content that looks like it condones violence. Cash App said it “does not condone violence of any kind,” and Chewy said it “unequivocally condemns violence.” In the era of instant sharing, a short laugh can be a reputational risk. That does not mean every company is permanently severing ties; some said they “do not currently sponsor” the show, which is a careful way to pause until the noise dies down.
Cancel culture or reasonable accountability?
Let’s be blunt: the hosts were tasteless to laugh at a joke tied to a killing. That deserves criticism. But the other side of the coin is how quickly the mob narrative turns into claims that lives are “destroyed” and that “all sponsors” are gone. That’s hyperbole. Advertisers exercising caution is different from a total career wipeout. Companies also love a public virtue-signaling moment — tweet a condemnation, cut a check for PR optics, and everyone moves on. Both taste and proportionality matter here.
Bottom line: a messy moment, a real lesson
This episode is a reminder that words and laughter still have consequences, especially online. The viral clip confirmed poor judgment by the hosts, and advertisers reacted to protect brands. But let’s stop pretending the story is apocalyptic. Apology and donation followed a backlash; some sponsors paused, and reports of nine advertisers leaving show the financial sting. That’s accountability, not collective ruination. If we want a healthy public square, we should demand better speech and also resist the lazy habit of turning every mistake into permanent exile.
