The daily gossip: Dave Chappelle jokes about 'being canceled,' Justin Bieber hints at when he and Hailey will start trying for a baby, and more

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1. Dave Chappelle jokes about 'being canceled' amid transphobic jokes controversy
2. Justin Bieber wants to 'start trying' for a baby 'nugget' with Hailey Baldwin
3. Kumail Nanjiani is 'uncomfortable' talking about his ripped bod
4. Kanye West's school now has a website — and basketball recruits
5. Chevy Chase successfully convinces Twitter he's 57 years old

published 8 October 2021

1. Dave Chappelle jokes about 'being canceled' amid transphobic jokes controversy

Dave Chappelle joked about "being canceled" at an event on Thursday, as he faces controversy over jokes about transgender people in his latest Netflix special. After receiving a standing ovation, he quipped, "If this is what being canceled is like, I love it." Chappelle was alluding to recent criticism of his Netflix special The Closer, in which he says that "gender is a fact" and calls himself "team TERF," while defending J.K. Rowling over her anti-trans remarks. GLAAD said that "Chappelle's brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities," while the National Black Justice Coalition called for Netflix to remove the special. While not directly addressing this criticism, Chappelle proclaimed, "F--- Twitter. F--- NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid a-- networks." He also said he has "never had a problem with transgender people," joking, "My problem has always been with white people."

Baby Biebs, coming soon? In a new documentary on Amazon, Justin Bieber admits that his "intention for 2021" is "to continue to set goals and have fun while doing them," including, apparently, "squish[ing] out a nugget" with his wife, Hailey Baldwin. The footage, captured before Bieber's New Year's Eve 2020 concert, includes Baldwin clarifying "in 2021?," to which Bieber confirmed he wanted to "start trying" at the end of the year. "We shall see," Hailey replied. The couple has repeatedly stated their desire to have kids, although in February 2020 Bieber told Apple Music's Zane Lowe that he still wanted to "enjoy being married for a little bit, go on tour, be married, enjoy traveling with just us, build more of our relationship." But becoming Papa Biebs in 2022? Never say never.

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Kumail Nanjiani has become "very uncomfortable" talking about his body, which he beefed up in preparation for his role in director Chloé Zhao's forthcoming Marvel film, Eternals — "and it's become less and less and less comfortable" to talk about ever since he shared viral shirtless photos of his progress to Instagram. "It's almost like being a young woman and having your breasts develop," Emily V. Gordon, Nanjiani's wife, put it to GQ. Nanjiani admitted that Zhao even "got a little upset at me for getting in shape," since she felt that he was perfect for the part before casting him as the superhero Kingo. But Nanjiani stressed he didn't do it just for her: "If I'm playing the first South Asian superhero, I want to look like someone who can take on Thor or Captain America, or any of those people," he said.

K-12 dropout? Kanye West is opening a private school, the Donda Academy, and its website is now live. On it, the school states its mission to "[equip] students with an education that will last in the ever-changing world." Though the K-12 school doesn't have a physical location just yet, "West is eying a 4-acre parcel" in the greater Los Angeles area, according to the Simi Valley Acorn, which reports the property "includes a 5,728-square-foot school with classrooms, labs, offices, kitchen, restrooms, storage, a basketball court, and an open field." Indeed, "Donda Academy appears to have a heavy focus on basketball, as four elite basketball prospects — Zion Cruz, Jahki Howard, Robert Dillingham, and Jalen Hooks — have reportedly committed to attending the academy," Billboard reports. Apparently, Donda Academy is already discussing a possible game against the Sierra Canyon School, where Lebron James' son goes, at the Staples Center in February 2022.

If Chevy Chase's birthday wish was to be 20 years younger, Twitter was ready to grant it. The Vacation star celebrated his 78th birthday Friday, tweeting a photo of himself in a vulgar Christmas shirt and writing, "It's my birthday … 57." He was obviously joking, but whoever writes the descriptions for Twitter's trending topics seemingly took it seriously or decided to play along with the bit. "Fans wish actor Chevy Chase a happy 57th birthday," the actual description for Chase's trending topic said — which would have made him 11 when SNL started. He's not the only star celebrating a birthday, though, so on that note, let's all wish a very happy 19th birthday to Matt Damon.

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.