Dave Chappelle is a comedian known for his sharp wit and rather controversial humor. With several controversies already listed under his name, the comedian has once again stirred the pot with his latest Netflix special ‘The Dreamer’.
Chappelle has a history of making “jokes” about some sensitive issues including LGBTQ+ themes. His performances have garnered both support and criticism. His 2021 Netflix special ‘The Closer’ had especially sparked controversy, leading to protests and walkouts among Netflix employees. Despite the outcry, the comedian has yet again touched upon the issue in a way that might offend some.
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Dave Chappelle Says Transgender People Make Him Feel “Very Disappointed”
Though Dave Chappelle faced considerable backlash from Netflix along with an ongoing debate about artistic freedom and responsible comedy, he has yet again made some problematic comments on his recent show. On ‘The Dreamer’, which premiered on December 31, the comedian has dedicated a significant portion to transgender issues, and not in a way that the community would appreciate.
For the opening of his performance, Chappelle shared a story about Jim Carrey’s method acting on the set of ‘Man on the Moon’ as he connected it to his feelings about the transgender community. Dave mentioned how he was “very disappointed” about the time he spent speaking to Carrey pretending to be Kaufman. “That’s how trans people make me feel,” he then added.
Chappelle also addressed the backlash against his anti-trans material. “I’m tired of talking about them,” he said, asserting that he has decided to not make fun of transgender people on his show.
“If you guys came here to this show tonight thinking that I’m going to make fun of those people again, you’ve come to the wrong show. I’m not fucking with those people anymore. It wasn’t worth the trouble. I ain’t saying shit about them,” he said. However, he immediately shifted his stance, in what seemed to be an attempt to make a joke: “Maybe three or four times tonight, but that’s it.”
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Chappelle Jokes About Handicapped And Black Women On ‘The Dreamer’
Chappelle then transitioned to joking about handicapped people, stating that “they’re not as organized as the gays. And I love punching down.” But as the show progressed, he circled back to the transgender community.
“To be honest with you, I’ve been trying to repair my relationship with the transgender community cause I don’t want them to think that I don’t like them. You know how I’ve been repairing it? I wrote a play. I did. Cause I know that gays love plays. It’s a very sad play, but it’s moving. It’s about a Black transgender woman whose pronoun is, sadly, n***a. It’s a tear-jerker. At the end of the play she dies of loneliness cause white liberals don’t know how to speak to her. It’s sad,” he said on the show, adding racism to what he claims to be comedy.
‘The Dreamer‘ is Chappelle’s seventh Netflix-exclusive stand-up special, and has seemingly further pushed his reputation for taking up sensitive issues as the basis of his comedy.
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