LGBTQ Community And Others Move To Cancel Star Comedian Dave Chappelle, Want New Comedy Show Removed From Netflix. Dave Chappelle speaks at Backstage at the Geffen Gala on Sunday, March 19, 2017, in Los Angeles.(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for Geffen Playhouse/AP Images)
Iconic comedian Dave Chappelle has dropped another Netflix special and it has the LGBTQ community and others calling for his cancellation – again.
Released Tuesday, Oct. 4, Chappelle’s new show is entitled “The Closer.” In it, Chappelle performs before a live audience in Detroit, Michigan and covers topics including racism, homophobia and transphobia.
True to form, Chappelle does not hold back with his jokes and opinions. “Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact,” Chappelle says at one point.
At another point, Chappelle talks about rapper Da Baby, who came under fire and was subsequently “cancelled” as he was dropped from a lot of shows after making disparaging comments about LGBTQ individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS at Rolling Loud Miami.
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“A lot of the LGBTQ community doesn’t know about DaBaby’s history. He once shot a nigga and killed him in Walmart. Oh this is true, Google it. Nothing bad happened to his career. Do you see where I’m going with this? In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigga, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings,” Chappelle quipped. “And this is precisely the disparity that I wish to discuss.”
Fellow comedian Michael Blackson addressed Chappelle’s reference to Da Baby being canceled on Twitter by the LGBTQ community on Twitter, seemingly in jest. “Dave Chapelle lowkey snitched on DaBaby,” Blackson wrote. “The LGBT did not know he killed anyone, now they hate him even more lol. LGBT it was self defense.”
Much like his prior special “Sticks and Stones,” released on Netlfix in 2020, Chappelle’s latest work has rubbed some people the wrong way. Among Chappelle’s critics are LGBTQ advocacy organizations GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). They are calling for Netflix to pull the special off the air.
“Dave Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities,” GLAAD wrote in a tweet. “Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don’t support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree.”
“With 2021 on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States — the majority of whom are Black transgender people — Netflix should know better. Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence,” David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, said in a statement to CNN. “Netflix should immediately pull The Closer from its platform and directly apologize to the transgender community.”
Twitter users were divided on the subject. Some supported Dave Chappelle, but others agreed with GLAAD and NBJC.
“Agreed. Chapelle and those who feel they are superior to anyone who is LGBTQ needs to be called out for it. Walk a mile in my shoes you clown,” user @DanhNgu99446448 wrote.
“Stop trying to find something to always be offended about. He wasn’t derogatory towards the LGBTQ community. You’re looking for something out of nothing,” Twitter user @IamJustEmilee wrote. “Stop the FAKE love. Stop riding a wave & work on real issues in the BLACK AND LGBTQ communities. #LGBTQMom #BlackMom,” tweeted.
“They’re not asking to pull these rappers Albums that are surely violent and misogynistic. But they’ll ask to pull a comedy special because of perched transphobic comments? Their priorities are misplaced,” @PharoahNew tweeted.
“His entire bit about why trans people should be allowed to use their washroom of choice was based around how he would be weirded out to pee next to a woman with a penis,” user @WTFFacepalm retorted to a user asking how Chappelle’s show was belittling to trans people. “He took like 20 mins to laugh about trans activism because racism is worse.”
“Anyone who watched the show in it’s entirety knows it wasn’t transphobic he spoke of his own thoughts which he is entitled to,” @77Fhawkins tweeted. “No matter what, hearing the truth that something isn’t authentic bothers u, then they need to look within.”
“I’m trans and I don’t find any of his trans jokes demeaning or threatening… I always felts his trans humor brought awareness to our community,” @GGBambi1 wrote.
“This political correctness has gone too far. Dave Chappelle is a comedian isn’t he? Netflix needs to never give in. Because if they do it will be more,” @Booker5248 responded.
