Dave Chappelle's Trumpian claims of 'cancel culture' are laughable

[Celerity]

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/11/opinions/dave-chappelle-netflix-the-closer-cane/index.html

Dave Chappelle apparently has an unusual obsession with the LGBTQ community. In his 72-minute Netflix special, "The Closer," the 48-year-old spent roughly half his routine ranting about all things LGBTQ. I've seen queer comedians spend less time on the LGBTQ community than Chappelle does. For years, Dave Chappelle has used his platform to comment on a community he is not a part of. Back in 2017, he "joked" about reassignment surgery and played into the trope that trans women trick straight men into sex. That same year, he mocked gay men in the dated "gay voice." In his 2019 Netflix special "Stick & Stones," Chappelle rants continuously about the trans community and complained about anyone who criticized him. Even outside of his work, Chappelle inexplicably called R&B singer Daniel Caesar "very gay" on Instagram Live in 2019.

In his new special, Chappelle treads many of the same paths -- while laughing all the way to the bank. I am not saying Chappelle isn't a comedy legend. Nor am I commenting on whether people might find his latest special funny. But Chappelle seems, for several years now, more fixated on LGBTQ folks than in my experience, many of us are on ourselves. In "The Closer," which ostensibly takes on cancel culture, Chappelle appears convinced the LGBTQ community is as focused on him as he is on them. I can assure you, queer people wouldn't be speaking out against Chappelle if he didn't incessantly rant about them. Chappelle implies "that community" is too sensitive and quickly shouts "cancel culture" at his critics. Let's be clear, he's not canceled: Chappelle's shows sell out, he lands major deals with streaming services and was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2019. Just because Chappelle is criticized on social media and the subject of think pieces doesn't mean he's been canceled.

Furthermore, as much as Chappelle foams at the microphone in "The Closer" over the trans community and complains about being labeled transphobic, he is not even close to being one of the main problems transwomen, specifically Black transwomen, are losing sleep over. At least 38 transgender or gender nonconforming people -- the vast majority of whom are Black or brown -- have been killed in the US so far this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Sadly, the transgender community endures disproportionate violence, often at the hands of heterosexual men -- many of whom would probably relish Chappelle's "comedy" about the bodies of trans women. Chappelle even compared the way some radical feminists view transwomen to the way Black people view blackface, which is arguably the dumbest comparison since Ben Carson compared Obamacare to slavery.

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Another Chappelle rebuttal is that there is racism in the LGBTQ community. That's no shocker. I've been calling out racism in queer communities for years. Chappelle tries to dispute critics who have called him transphobic by offering a feeble alternative argument: "Any of you who have ever watched me know that I have never had a problem with transgender people. If you listen to what I'm saying, clearly, my problem has always been with White people," Chappelle said. But that's clearly untrue, his digs are what Black queer folks hear from homophobes in the Black community, as well. As activist Raquel Willis wrote of Chappelle, "It's convenient for Black cishet male comedians to talk about LGBTQ+ folks as if our group is only or even predominantly white. With that frame, they don't have to contend with how Black cishet folks often enact (physical and psychological) violence on Black LGBTQ+ folks." In "The Closer," Chappelle appears to pit Black folks against queer folks with jokes like, "If slaves had baby oil and booty shorts, we might have been free 100 years sooner." He also said, "In our country, you can shoot and kill a n***** but you better not hurt a gay person's feelings."

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https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/11/22720724/netflix-suspends-trans-employee-tweeted-dave-chappelle-the-closer

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[vercetti2021]

1. Sadly that's our world

And this isn't going to help our cause really. Its gonna make more and more people hate us. I don't give a shit what Dave Chappelle says because I don't let people hurt me like that. It hurts others definitely, but it doesn't bother me. But sadly trying to "cancel" him or whatever these dip dongs use isn't helping our community.

Also I normally get a kick out of his stand up. But sadly he sounds more like an old man just spouting off nonsense like a uncle at a dinner table during Thanksgiving. I watched his special and it got progressively worse as it went on. I didn't chuckle at nearly any joke. It was pretty abysmal

[Haggard Celine]

11. He just isn't funny, at least not anymore.

I don't see why he's been so popular and people still line up to see him. He used to be occasionally funny, but when he stopped being a comedian and started being a social commentator, the humor left his act.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

20. If pointing out bigoted behavior "hurts our cause," what exactly is "our cause"???

[vercetti2021]

22. It's usually that "cancel" term

Yes I get pointing it out, but people are quick to hijack it and turn it into oh they wanna cancel him, the trans community and their allies are insane, blah blah blah. Like I said, it puts more negative attention on us

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. I'm sure you have a way of pointing out bigotry that is acceptable to those who feel reactions of

trans community are “insane.” What is it?

[vercetti2021]

44. What I'm saying is

Like having more negative attention on us. I'm in the transition process and its gonna be incredibly difficult with people. Having more unwanted issues is not gonna help people like me

[ItsjustMe]

2. I never thought Dave Chappelle

Was a very good comedian, he rarely made me laugh.

I always thought he was very overrated as a comedian.

[msongs]

3. maybe dave can go ontour with the lt gov. of NC as his opening act nt

[tonedevil]

12. Following by Louis CK

[tonedevil]

4. The fuck head who told us...

that he was offended by Secretary Clinton showing him that donald said he grapped women by the pussy. He also said that donald's statement indicated consent. Oh yeah he was the shit face that offered Louis CK a spot. If you are on team Terf you should just kill yourself.

[dewsgirl]

5. I found it deeply moving, I think people should watch

it themselves before judging. A stand up comedy show has never made me cry like this one. I don't think he was trying to be transphobic.

[Celerity]

6. Of course he was being transphobic, it is right there on tape, plus he has a history of extremely

problematic hot takes and stances on the entire LGBTQ community, including, but not limited to, trans people.

[tonedevil]

8. He doesn't try he just is transphopic/nt

[obamanut2012]

14. He literally says he is Team Terf

And spews really appalling shit. It should shock me you and so many other DUers think he is just A-OK, and what he said was just A-OK. realized how transphobic really was when there were several pro JK Rowling threads. Seeing an entire thread on here this weekend LOVING Chapelle, and telling the rest of us we were ridiculous, sealed the deal.

What would all of you Chappelle apologists say if he said he was Team WifeBeater? Team Klan? Team Nazi? Team Anti-ADA?

He has been loathsome for YEARS. You just are allowing yourself to feel okay about his transphobia because he had a trans friend. Like white folks say the nword because they ahve that one black "friend."

[Happy Hoosier]

36. After the dust-up, I did watch it.

I'm not really a Chappelle fan, but I wanted to see for myself.

It is more complicated than it is being portrayed, but the general feeling I got was that whatever his intent, he dismissing the experience of trans people... and trans women in general.

As someone who knows trans people who have been subjected to ridicule and experience pain on a daily basis, I just can't give his "I am on Team TERF" a pass. This isn't an academic debate. There are real Trans Women hearing a straight man on TV telling them their experiences are subject to his approval.

[dewsgirl]

38. Yes, the TERF thing is bad, but he goes on to talk about

growth and his friend, which actually made me cry. I haven't cried in months.
Side note: I defended the special the day it came out, I was surprised when I had all positive replies. Obviously today is different.

[Happy Hoosier]

39. Don't get me wrong....

I think there is nuance to be seen there. And I think he does describe a journey.

But in my eyes, he dug a deep hole and climbed only about half-way out.

And the fact that a trans Netflix employee was fired after publicly criticizing Netflix is not a good look. Don't get me wrong, publicly criticizing your boss is always risky, but Netflix KNEW it was courting controversary for the sake of profit, so I expected a little more latitude.

[dewsgirl]

40. I read about that, not good at all as far as Netflix goes..

Yes, I hope he is able too. I really don't think it was his intent to hurt anyone.

[Sympthsical]

41. The employee was fired for trying to crash a director's meeting

Actions have consequences.

Real life doesn't work like Twitter.

[betsuni]

7. No.

[Celerity]

10. Yes.

https://www.mic.com/articles/183647/dave-chappelle-still-doesnt-understand-transgender-people-but-hes-ready-to-support-them






https://newrepublic.com/article/141550/dave-chappelles-problem-gay-people




when you are being promoted by Breitbart, something is seriously fucked up




https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2016/11/05/dave-chappelle-slams-clinton-defends-most-gangsta-candidate-ever-donald-trump/

[obamanut2012]

15. He literally says he is Team Terf

Team Nazi
Team Wife Beater
Team Klan
Team Trump
Team Hate

He is literally bragging he is part of a hateful and bigoted group, and people on here are just crowing how great he is, and how we are all so ridiculous. He had a trans friend! How touching! Go Dave! Love JK Rowling, too!!!!!!

I do not get it.

[betsuni]

21. No. Words words words. No.

[Celerity]

24. You are literally defending homophobic/transphobic speech and stances.

That says a lot about you and your beliefs IMHO.

[betsuni]

25. "Literally" eh? Personal attack.

[Celerity]

29. Do you approve of the TERF movement? Do you consider yourself a TERF?

Are you ok with Chappelle's openly homophobic speech, whether in the form of so-called humour or not?

Are you ok with his Sec Clinton bashing and his being a Trump apologist at a crucial point in 2016?

When you act as an apologist for and/or a defender of Chappelle (especially after having been given documented examples of his support or actual actions directly germane to all of the questions) those are all legitimate questions of not just you, but all Chappelle apologists/defenders.

I personally think the concepts held and stances taken by TERFs quite often, and perhaps always, stray into hate speech.

[betsuni]

30. None of this is about me. Who are you?

[Celerity]

32. You are the one defending Chappelle, you are the one being an apologist for his

abhorrent behaviour, both in the present and on a documented historical basis. You are therefore proactively involved and those questions are very much legitimate ones. You injected yourself into the debate.

[betsuni]

34. Still not about me.

[Celerity]

37. No, it is and was. Your continued refusal to answer simple (and germane) questions is duly noted.

You injected yourself into the debate via your complete dismissal (your 2 letter answer, 'No') of the article's positings on Chappelle's speech and actions.

[betsuni]

47. ...

[betsuni]

35. ...

[Doc Sportello]

42. Obviously not

A personal attack.

[betsuni]

46. Obviously it is.

[Doc Sportello]

48. Obviously not since it wasn't removed

Are you questioning DU's jury system, or questioning facts, like the fact it wasn't removed as a personal attack?

[betsuni]

49. ...

[Doc Sportello]

51. The usual desperate response when one loses out

Go to the emojis. Obvious.

[betsuni]

52. Oh, this is the part where I'm supposed to get mad.

[tonedevil]

9. If you want to defend team TERF...

You are a pure shithead to me

[obamanut2012]

16. Huge thread on here this weekend doing just that

It is appalling.

[tonedevil]

18. I saw that it makes me sad /nt

[obamanut2012]

19. Same, my friend

[Roy Rolling]

13. It's an Act

The current act isn’t funny, but he *is* a comedy legend. He earned that.

I saw the special, I understand some people will be rightly offended. But that’s more an aging comedian making an act about their current personal challenges than an offensive person spewing hate.

His reputation precedes him. I cringe at some things he says, and laugh out loud at others. I just laughed out loud much more on his previous work—the LBGTQ stuff was low-hanging fruit and seemed weak.

[obamanut2012]

17. He literally brags that he hates trans people

He literally brags he is Team Terf.

Would you defend CK or Amy Schumer if they said they are Team Klan?

It is the same damned thing.

[Ellipsis]

56. Parsing...

Netflix then suspended Field along with two other employees for trying to attend a director-level meeting they weren’t invited to.

[milestogo]

26. Making fun of LGBTQ people used to be a way for comedians to make a living.

If he's smart, he'll find some other way to be funny.

[jcgoldie]

27. Say some deliberately offensive shit designed to get a rise out of people...

... cry "cancel culture" when they are rightfully offended as per your intentions... wash rinse repeat. Shame on you Dave Chappelle.

[BeckyDem]

28. Not all straight and black people appreciate this guy. Not at all.

He doesn't speak for me, he speaks for a bigoted culture that can thrive because of his celebrity status which makes money off his success. Kudos to Terra Field who spoke out at Netflix, I can only hope he will change, find his humanity and stop this line of "entertainment."

[Johnny2X2X]

33. I watched his special

It was funny, but I think he's playing the victim too much now. He's a victim of nothing, he's gotten rich and famous for his comedy, no one is canceling him.

And he defended Kevin Hart's homophobic comments and lamented him losing "his life's dream" of hosting the Oscars. Hosting the Oscars isn't your right, they have the right to hold their hosts to a standard of behavior. No one canceled Kevin Hart, he's still rich and famous and appearing in movies.

And his end story was about a trans woman he befriended years ago who killed herself. I thought that story sounded way way too convenient and I doubt it went down like Chappelle implied it did. He basically said he asked this trans person to open for him when he was in San Francisco and they became friends, and then she defended him on social media and took heat for it, and killed herself over the heat she took. The whole story sounded exaggerated. And even that story, his theme seemed to be that this trans person was great because she was fine with Chappelle being a bigot and joined in with him in making fun of trans people. It was the trans equivalent of a racist saying, "but I've got black friends." His attitude seems to be that people should just agree with whatever he says and not push back no matter what, that's the only way he thinks people can get along, if they agree with him.

[qazplm135]

43. first rule of comedy

Punch up not down.

Let's assume Dave is right...he is crazily wrong, but let's assume for the sake of argument he's "spitting truth," it's still punching down. There are few people lower on society's totem pole than trans people. Why punch down on them? It's cruel, not funny.

[madville]

53. Also these days they have to follow some simple rules

They can only make jokes about their specific groups they identify with. A Jewish comedian can make Jewish jokes, Black comedian can make Black jokes, etc, etc. A Jewish comedian can’t make Black jokes and a Black comedian can’t make Jewish jokes. If they were a Black Jew that could get more complicated.

Only exception is jokes about White people, anyone is allowed to do that. It used to be Chappelle’s entire routine and his TV show, either making fun of White or Black people, and most people loved it.

He’s gone off the deep end with the trans stuff though, it’s an obsession.

[Zeitghost]

54. Have you seen the special?

Dave addresses your entire point for most of it and he does it well.

[qazplm135]

55. no he doesn't

if he understood the point, he wouldn't be saying what he's said.


I'm a black man too, and I get that Dave is primarily focused on black people being at the bottom of society, but he's wrong, we aren't at the bottom, trans people are, particularly trans people of color.

He's clearly offended that LGBTQ people are held equivalent to black people in suffering. He's wrong. They are. It's not a competition. He doesn't need to lessen the issues LGBTQ people face, particularly trans people, to highlight the problems black people face. Yet he clearly feels he needs to. This is the basis of his complaint that you "can shoot a kill a n@@@@ but better not hurt a gay person's feelings." It's bullshit.

He says "“gender is a fact.” He's "Team TERF." He said trans women's genitalia was like plant based meat substitute.

None of that is "addressing the point," it is the point.

[Behind the Aegis]

45. Court in Kuwait sentences trans woman to 2 years in prison for 'imitating the opposite sex'

A court in Kuwait has sentenced a transgender woman to two years behind bars for “misusing phone communication” by “imitating the opposite sex.”

Maha al-Mutairi, who also received a fine of 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars ($3,315), was sentenced on Oct. 3, the Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.

The 40-year-old has been arrested multiple times before, but her latest conviction appears to be based on her recent online activities. She was convicted under article 70 of the telecommunication law and article 198 of the penal code.

According to the HRW, such laws “violate the rights to free expression, privacy, and nondiscrimination under Kuwait’s constitution and international law.” The international human rights advocacy group is calling for authorities to “immediately release her and quash the conviction.”

---

On her way to the police station, she filmed herself saying that police had raped and beaten her repeatedly while she was detained in a prison for men for seven months in 2019.

more...

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

50. He's just another ignorant, hateful bigot.

Haters gotta hate, haters gonna hate.

If you have Netflix, give this bigoted conservative creep a thumbs down.