Dave Chappelle jokes about 'being canceled' amid transphobic jokes controversy
Dave Chappelle at an event on Thursday night joked about "being canceled" while slamming Twitter and the media as he faces controversy over jokes about transgender people in his latest Netflix special.
The comedian performed Thursday after a screening of Untitled: Dave Chappelle Documentary in Los Angeles, and after receiving a standing ovation, he quipped, "If this is what being canceled is like, I love it," The Hollywood Reporter reports.
Chappelle was alluding to the fact that he has been under fire since the release of his newest Netflix special, The Closer, in which he says that "gender is a fact" and calls himself "team TERF," a term meaning trans-exclusionary radical feminist, while defending J.K. Rowling over her anti-trans remarks. GLAAD in a statement 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, saying, "Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence." Jaclyn Moore, executive producer of Netflix's Dear White People, also said she won't work with Netflix again while it continues to "profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While not directly addressing this criticism, according to the Reporter, Chappelle at the Thursday event proclaimed, "F--- Twitter. F--- NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid a-- networks. I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to you. This is real life." His remark slamming Twitter received a "big roar" from the audience, Deadline reports. Chappelle has also been criticized for jokes about transgender people in previous specials, and in The Closer, he jokes that he doesn't "give a f---" about being "dragged" online "because Twitter is not a real place." He also says that he has "never had a problem with transgender people," joking, "My problem has always been with white people."
Stevie Wonder also spoke at the event on Thursday, according to the Reporter, telling the crowd, "What we need to cancel is hate."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published