Dave Chappelle is once again expressing defiance after briefly bending to the criticism he received for mocking trans people in his latest Netflix special, resulting in several LGBTQ and civil rights groups issues statements and an employee walkout at Netflix.
After a rep for the comic told TMZ last week, “Dave stands by his art: No more jokes about transgenders until we can all laugh together. The streets are talking and Dave is listening. At some point, when everyone is open, I’m sure the communities will come together,” Chappelle appears to be walking that back, saying he’s “not bending to anyone’s demands.”
Related: Netflix CEO refuses to discuss Dave Chappelle in pompous exchange with reporter
“I say what I said, and, boy, I heard what you said. Oh my God. How could I not?” he told an audience in an Instagram video shared with his more than 2.3 million followers. “For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supportive. So I don’t know what this nonsense is about.”
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If he doesn’t know what “this nonsense” is about then his he’s clearly not paying very close attention.
In the video, Chappelle also denied reports that he refused to meet with members of the LGBTQ community to discuss the uproar, claiming, “If they had invited me, I would have accepted it, although I’m confused about what we’re speaking about.”
Related: Jon Stewart has weighed in on the Dave Chappelle controversy and Lord help us
But this doesn’t square with what Ashlee Marie Preston, who helped organize the employee walkout at Netflix, said when she told reporters last week that she had invited him to sit down and talk but “Dave chose not to show up.”
“If you want to meet with me, I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions,” Chappelle said in the video. His first demand is that anyone who wants to talk to him must first watch his transphobic special from beginning to end. His second demand is that he gets to pick the time and place where they meet.
“They said you want a safe working environment at Netflix,” he says. “Well, it seems like I’m the only one that can’t go to the office anymore.”
Hmmm. Last we checked, finding resolution required a little bit of bending. Bullying the people you’ve hurt into doing things your way after you’ve already caused them extreme harm is not how progress is made.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Jim
Hate is not humorous !!
richybruce
Watch the special moron. There’s nothing “hateful” in it. What’s hateful is the vitriol leveled at a guy who is not only intelligent, thoughtful and funny, but an ally to the LGBTQ community.
sean2groovy
Censorship is not humorous or justice.
Cam
Two brand new accounts come in to defend Chapelle.
Yeah, his P.R. team has nothing to do with that.
sean2groovy
If Chapelle had a PR team they aren’t going to care about Queerty. I suppose it’s impossible for you to believe that gay people can actually take a stand against censorship. pathetic.
Canadiancub
@cam do u reallythink ppl are logging into multiple accounts. You’re literally a psycho
Ronbo
Cam is the alter ego of editor/author Graham Greene.
dinard38
@Canadiancub Cam is a total psycho. Apparently anyone that disagrees with him is the same troll with multiple accounts. He is so damn annoying!!! There’s no way in hell that he could know that someone uses multiple accounts, yet he’s always accusing someone. He needs to GTFOH!
mastik8
Well, I hope they discuss the amount of commission Chappelle will be paying to them given the amount of free publicity the community has provided. Thanks to them, and aside from those in dissent, the show is an unqualified success.
richybruce
It’s a success because it’s good.
mastik8
@richybruce – Agreed. It almost seems as though the trans community’s outrage was counted on and calculated into the promotion for the show.
Ronbo
Gremore has a definite anti-gay history. He attacked gay mayor Alex Morse with multiple false stories causing Alex to lose the election.
Gremore seems to be intentionally dividing the community.
mastik8
While I’m not sure of the role the author plays in it the DNC’s war on progressivism and their homophobia has been front and center since the last Super Tuesday.
Ronbo
Equal rights now. Not superior rights. Not inferior rights.
Rather than trying to cancel people, maybe you should change the channel? Chappelle isn’t trying to cancel the emmy-winning Ru Paul.
Equal rights, not superior rights.
kareem
I’m lost. DID Rupaul attack straight black people ?
Kangol2
Your point about Chappelle and Ru Paul is incoherent. For the record, Ru Paul is an out gay man who dresses in drag. The controversy surrounding Chappelle centers on his comments about trans people, as well as gay people (beating up a lesbian, etc.).
Cam
Translation: Nobody has the right to disagree with Chappelle. Ok, got it.
Ronbo
Yes, the comment requires you to think – not just react. We should have equal rights. You can change the channel. Get your own comedy routine going.
It’s easier to wear slippers than carpet the world. If censorship is your only tool, you might be closer to a Republican than you think.
kareem
Black people always got a pass when it comes to homophobia and Transphobia. A white comedian would have been cancelled long time ago
Kangol2
Are you kidding? Alec Baldwin has made homophobic comments and has had a thriving career (though this recent tragic accidental shooting might change that). Paris Hilton made homophobic comments and has not been canceled at all. Sarah Silverman made anti-gay statements and is not canceled. Eminem has repeatedly made anti-gay statements and his music not only sells, but he’s regularly praised. Drake Bell posted anti-trans tweet and no one has canceled him. The list is a long one!
sean2groovy
Straight comedians can’t say anything about gay people without being destroyed but I’ve heard queer comedians say viscous stuff to straights. It’s complete hypocrisy–and I am gay!
UncleFloppy
I watched the Chappelle special on Netflix and I don’t think that he hates trans people, I just think that he doesn’t fully understand trans people very well.
He doesn’t seem to understand that trans men are MEN and that trans women are WOMEN.
After watching the special I cancelled my Netflix subscription with a note that I was doing so because of the Chappelle special. Gotta hit Netflix in the wallet to impact a change.
kareem
Just imagine if it was a white comedian making fun of black community and black lives matter
richybruce
So because he doesn’t “understand” trans people you cancel your Netflix subscription? That’s the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard.
GlobeTrotter
@UncleFloppy: “He doesn’t seem to understand that trans men are MEN and that trans women are WOMEN.”
See, it’s ridiculous statements like these that are dividing the country and will hand Trump a second term in the White House. Look, I have no issues with Trans individuals. As far as I’m concerned, every single human being has a God-given right to exist and live a fulfilling life (as long as this causes no harm to others). If you’re a man who feels fulfilled by living his life as a woman, more power to you! If you’re a woman who finds fulfillment by living as a man, then go right ahead! You need no one’s permission to have liberty, a fulfilling life and the pursuit of happiness.
HOWEVER, you cross a line when you require and compel others to agree with that which we know to be universally and demonstrably untrue! Trans men are women who wish to live their lives as men – they are NOT men! Similarly, trans women are men who wish to live their lives as women. They are NOT women! The term “trans” attached to their gender should have made this fact very clear! And you want to lose the support of the gay community, of the feminist community, of the black community, etc. then keep pushing this LIE and see how quickly you’re left standing alone!
No one has any problems with trans people, we accept everyone just as they are, but the LIE has to go!
sean2groovy
It is disturbing how the LGBTQ+ community uses the same attitude and methods that the haters did to us decades ago. If someone doesn’t think exactly like we say then we must destroy them. All we are doing is making enemies. I did not sign up being gay meaning that I have to throw away all our hard work for trans people not able to take a damn joke.
mastik8
@UncleFloppy: “He doesn’t seem to understand that trans men are MEN and that trans women are WOMEN.” I think what you meant to say is that trans men can live as women and trans women can live as men. There’s a subtle distinction that I’m sure you understand.
Seth
I watched the special on Netflix and I don’t think that he hates black people, I just think that he doesn’t care to fully understand black people very well.
He doesn’t seem to understand that Black men are HUMAN and that Black women are HUMAN.
Still think this argument holds?
moretruth
Globetrotter cuts to the heart of the matter. And to perpetuate the lie, trans activists keep acting like they speak for the entire LGBT community, and then embroil the LG&B into the lie. So many years educating people that we are “born this way,” only to have those “not born they way they want” tear it down.
cliche guevara
Globe sounds like homophobes of a few decades ago.
Anyway this is super easy to address. Cis-women are women. Trans-women are women. Cis-men are men trans-men are men. When people insist on focusing on the trans part they are trying to strip away part of the person’s identity and call them out as something other than normal. Cis folks have no more claim to a gender than trans folks. Just because one group is smaller doesn’t make it abnormal.
Using Globe’s thought process we have straight men and gay men and since there are more straight men they get to be called men and gay men have to just be gay. Because gay men are men that choose to live life as gay not straight. This is literally the mindset we have spent decades breaking. Sad to see some many people embrace it now.
GlobeTrotter
The reason why most people side with Dave Chappelle is because he was a social justice warrior back then when most of these snow flakes weren’t even born yet. He actually walked away from a $50 million payday because the wildly successful show he created had morphed into negative portrayals of minority groups. Let me repeat, he walked away from 50 FREAKING MILLION DOLLARS!
He could have continued doing his show for 10 more years and then retired as a young gazillionaire, but NO, he chose to put principle over profits. That’s why all these accusations of transphobia ring so hollow, because unlike these trans activists, Chappelle has actually put his money where his mouth is.
So I, for one, will continue to support Dave Chappelle. I’ve seen his special and do not agree that it’s in any way transphobic. He’s been making of different groups for years now – gays, lesbians, Jews, African-Americans, everyone has had their turn in his shows. Trans activists simply have to learn that there’s a VERY BIG difference between comedy and hate. They should take a chill pill and do what the rest of us black gay men have been doing for decades – learn to laugh at yourself!
richybruce
Thank you,.
sean2groovy
Well said! Totally agree.
mastik8
Agreed. A missed opportunity.
Cam
Him walking away from money doesn’t make him a “Social Justice Warrior”.
Also, your using that Fox News term pretty much shows who you are.
GlobeTrotter
@Cam: “Him walking away from money doesn’t make him a ‘Social Justice Warrior'”
$50 million is more than just “money”, but why don’t you tell us how much “money” you walked away from in order not to compromise your principles. Or better yet, how much “money” has any of these trans activists ever walked away from, just to stand up for their convictions?
Dave Chappelle sacrificed an entire career plus god only knows how many chances for financial enrichment and advancement, just to stand up for a social cause. How much have you or any of these trans activists ever sacrificed for a social cause? For strangers they have never and will never meet?
sean2groovy
I am NOT OK with censoring a comedian. I have watched all of Chappelle’s specials and there is nothing transphobic about it unless you are purposely looking to be offended. The LGBTQ+ community has lost it’s damn mind and is destroying decades of work we did for equal rights with this ‘cancel’ culture bullshit. Enough is enough! Get over it! Learn to take a joke!
kareem
Keep the same energy with racist comedians and blackface
sean2groovy
..and you keep that same energy with destroying anyone who doesn’t think exactly like you. See what that does to gay rights in 10 years.
Fahd
The Netflix board should replace the Netflix executive leadership. If Chappelle just can’t get it, that’s why you have producers and standards, etc. To discuss and review with him before the show airs with inappropriate content. This program is on a streaming platform. You don’t just put it out there, hatefulness included, and figure you can overcome criticism, because after all it’s a small minority who are inappropriately targeted, even if Chappelle asserts that he has “friends” who are in that minority. That reinforces rather than undermines prejudices and is so pre-civil-rights-movement.
The Netflix board should replace the Netflix executive leadership.
afonso
Did anyone watch the show until the end and saw that he created a trust fund for his deceased trans friend offspring???
GlobeTrotter
See, none of this matters. If you commit the cardinal sin of criticizing or saying one wrong word against the prevailing orthodoxy, then you need to be cancelled, defenestrated and your entire existence erased from history.
cliche guevara
Yes and now I’m going to blow your mind.
A generally good person can do or say a bad thing.
A generally bad person can do or say a good thing.
So it’s totally possible for Chapelle to do a wonderful thing for a child while still dating terrible things about trans people.
BoomerMyles
The man is a transphobe plain and simple using their persecution as a punch line.
Just CANCEL him already!
sean2groovy
maybe they should cancel you next.
BaltoSteve
Sounds suspiciously like “But some of my best friends are …..”
Cam
So what I’m getting from all the Chapelle trolls on here is this….
Chapelle has the right to his opinion and to say anything he wants. But nobody else has the right to their opinion or to not like his special.
sean2groovy
Hey Cam, way to play the clueless victim. you can say what you want but you don’t have the right to destroy a person just because he doesn’t follow your orthodoxy. you are no different than the sin you claim of others.
mastik8
You just did both.
GlobeTrotter
You have a First Amendment right to voice any opinion your heart desires. You just don’t have a right to cancel or silence someone else for doing the same. See how that works? Opinions are a two-way street. You have a right to yours, I have a right to mine, and others have a right to theirs. We just don’t have a right to silence others because we don’t like their opinions.
cliche guevara
@ Globe
The first amendment provides protection from the government. Can you point to how the government is trying to censor Chapelle?
Cam
@GlobeTrotter said…..
“”You have a First Amendment right to voice any opinion your heart desires. You just don’t have a right to cancel or silence someone else for doing the same.””
Actually I absolutely have the right to not watch a Dave Chapelle special and to let Netflix know how I feel about it.
But it’s cute how you think hiding my freedoms behind the word “Cancel” will conceal your soviet like attempt to silence people who don’t like the special.
Ronbo
Cam, the more you post, the less I like you.
You are entitled to your own thoughts, but NO ONE IS PAYING TO HEAR THEM.
ddonts
Dave Chapelle is pure trash. Don’t waste your time on him.
Consider This
Sorta tired of Dave about now. There are much better choices.
Ronbo
iI can’t wait for you to watch Eddie Izzard. Next you’ll be cancelling a trans comedian.
RobF
Free speech. If you don’t like it, change the channel.
cliche guevara
This isn’t a free speech issues.
mastik8
@cliche guevara – How isn’t this a free speech issue? Are you saying you are OK with taking away someone’s right to free speech if you do not agree with them? Once you set that precedent are you OK with someone doing the same to you? Because currently all of us are just exercising our First Amendment rights to free speech here in the Queerty comments section on a subject there is some disagreement on.
cliche guevara
@ mastik8
In the United States freedom of speech is covered by the First Amendment. The first amendment protects citizens from the government. Not government entity is trying to limit speech in this situation. So, it’s not a free speech issue.
Further, no one is limiting what Dave Chappelle is saying. He is as free as ever to say what he wants. Free speech doesn’t guarantee anyone a platform or offer protection from criticism of said speech.
Ronbo
It’s a free speech issue. You can change the channel; no one is forcing you to watch. Have you even watched it?
it’s childish to think that throwing tantrums solves problems.
cliche guevara
Repeatedly calling it a free speech issue doesn’t make it so. Who had their first amendment rights violated? …. Nobody.
iminheatlikeacat
I assume the majority of us are gay guys here. Serious question to those who say trans men are men: how many of you would perform O on a trans man? If not, why not, if TMAM?
Hank31
“Transmen are men” only if we re-define men to mean “anyone who identifies as a man.” If we re-define “men” that way, then yes, it’s undeniable that TMAM. However, in that case, the word would no longer have any meaning. It would be a word which refers only to its own usage and nothing else. “Man” wouldn’t tell you anything about a person other than that he uses the word “man.”
cliche guevara
You seriously thing genitalia is only thing that defines manhood, that’s it? A few square inches of the human body?
mastik8
@cliche guevara “You seriously thing genitalia is only thing that defines manhood, that’s it? A few square inches of the human body? ” Interesting point. Wouldn’t it actually be trans people that think that way? Otherwise, why transition? If genitalia isn’t what defines manhood or even personhood why not make peace with being a man in a woman’s body or a woman in a man’s body, etc. Isn’t there something a bit homophobic and misogynistic about not being comfortable with either. It implies there is something wrong with both that needs fixing.
iminheatlikeacat
As the first comment didn’t go through, despite there being absolutely nothing in it to await moderation, I’ll try again: Yes, a big part of it defines someone being male.
cliche guevara
@ mastik8
You are a troll I have responded elsewhere to your inane comments and you have opts to to defend your positions. Go ahead and your bigoted thing you have no audience here.
Ronbo
As Cliche noted, if you aren’t sucking a clit and pretending it’s a dick, you are a bigot.
bma83
GlobeTrotter, I just want to say thank you for putting into words what I’ve been trying to for the longest time.
Hank31
I enjoyed the special. It was very funny. He isn’t as funny as Chris Rock, but he’s still very good. Many trans activists harbor a great deal of anger and suffer from mental co-morbidities. They externalize their rage, targeting a very large and ever-growing list of enemies. Chappelle is just the latest one on the list.
Cam
Awwww, Hank is back, under this screename the right wing troll account exposes it’s OBSESSION with trans people.
Likely because it is a self hating closet case and furious that trans people are expressing themselves openly while it seethes with jealousy.
Maybe you should talk to somebody, you obviously have unresolved trans issues.
Ronbo
Or they might be acting-out in order to be noticed. Note the differences between trans-men and trans-women. One group seeks a stage to display their emotions and the other group (raised as girls) seem to want to live their lives without public drama.
Drop the drama guys. It’s embarrassing childish and it damages the advances that the LGBT community has made. You are turning off gays AND straights. Don’t seek out situations to characterize your life as only a victim.
Apolodorus
Most of what I see here is old people supporting an old, out of touch, bitter millionaire.
“I’m team Terf”
“trans women’s” genitalia are “not quite what it is”.
If you don’t understand that either of Theseus transphobic, than you don’t know how to read or listen.
“All I ask of your community, with all humility: Will you please stop punching down on my people?”
If you don’t think this is cynically pitying black people against gay people, as if black queer people did not exist, and are an anathema to blackness, it’s because you are too blind to spot it.
You are going to the bat to defend a man who you will never know, against people who are punched down by society at every level and are about to have the deadliest year when it comes to violent deaths.
I would say that you should be ashamed of yourselves, but shame won’t touch you. Because to have shame you need to have empathy, and you don’t. So I’ll end with just a warning. When they are done with transgender people, who do you think they will come for next?
mastik8
Oy, I initially read that to read that you thought that the “Ship of Theseus” paradox was transphobic. Having said that it did take me down an interesting path.
Cozmo2
I watched it and I was laughing the whole time. He is a very funny guy. Me as a gay man I didn’t think he said anything wrong. He spoke the truth. I don’t care what anyone says I’m still watching very thing Dave Chappelle does. Very one is making a big deal out of nothing. People are tooooo sensitive and need to calm down. GOOD GOD GET A GRIP PEOPLE. Don’t have a stroke, laugh a little.
cliche guevara
I watched it found it mostly meh, the gay and lesbian jokes were only offensive in how stale they were.
The trans jokes were straight up transphobic.
Ronbo
cliche guevara is gonna be cancelled for saying these things about Dave. Either you are with the trans-extremists 100% or you are the problem. Dave is the black devil we feared most when we tried on mom’s shoes.
Cam
The old right wing line….”I have (insert minority) friends!
Remember when Sarah Palin also claimed she had gay friends?
Ronbo
Cam has investigated!
Ronbo
There are no LGBTQ people working in Hollywood. Thanks for the detailed investigation, Cam
ManCanBemuse
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mastik8
We’re sure Queerty’s coverage of Netflix employee and Trans Activist Ashlee Marie Preston’s old anti-Asian and Latino tweets is in the works.
dinard38
“But this doesn’t square with what Ashlee Marie Preston, who helped organize the employee walkout at Netflix, said when she told reporters last week that she had invited him to sit down and talk but “Dave chose not to show up.”
I find it hilarious that they chose Ashlee Marie Preston to speak for them. My aunt posted a video on FB from DL Hughley who called out Ashlee. Dave Chappelle has been criticized for inciting violence against trans people, which is totally not true. DL Hughley points out the hypocrisy by showing these tweets from Ashlee where she absolutely inciting violence against asians and mexicans, and calling gay people fa**ots. Said some really nasty things. But she have the nerve to stand up there to talk about violence against the trans community. Eye roll!!!!