Dave Chappelle has issued an altogether baffling retort to the negative press he’s received in the wake of his recent stand-up special, The Closer.
The Closer was released on Netflix in early October 2021 and immediately drew criticism for its ridicule and mockery of transgender people. The American LGBT media organisation, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), released a statement saying, “Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people.”
Chappelle has now posted a five minute video from a recent theatre show to Instagram, in which he rails against “cancellation” and asserts “I am not bending to anybody’s demands.”
To the transgender community, he says “I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me.”
He goes on: “If you want to meet with me, I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing, at a time of my choosing. And thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby’s not funny.”
Although Chappelle lets out a small chuckle before stating these conditions, he sounds too furious for them come over as tongue in cheek. The reason Gadsby is mentioned is that Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandos, tried to use her specials, Nanette and Douglas, as examples of the panoramic content provided by the streaming service.
In response, Gadsby posted to Instagram: “Hey Ted Sarandos! Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chapelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view.”
She continued: “Fuck you and your amoral algorithm cult. I do shits with more backbone than you.”
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