Dave Chappelle controversy strikes again

Students discuss the comedian’s skits and SNL appearance

Jessica Mills / Arts & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

(cw: anti-Semitism, transphobia, homophobia, racism, suicide)

Stand-up comedian and actor Dave Chappelle is best known for his comedy series “Chappelle’s Show,” which ran on the Comedy Central Network from 2003-2006. Despite garnering popular attention, both the series and Chappelle faced backlash due to his racial humor. For example ,his character “Clayton Bigsby”  is known as the “world’s only Black White supremacist.” The character says many harmful slurs and statements against Black, Mexican, Arab, Jewish, homosexual and other peoples during the duration of the episode. 

While his career has evolved over the years, Chappelle’s controversy remains prevalent today with six separate Netflix specials — including his newest addition, “The Closer,” which aired in 2021. After stating “gender is a fact” and defending author J.K. Rowling and rap artist DaBaby — who have both been criticized for transphobic comments — Chappelle and Netflix were met with outrage and negative reviews from both viewers and Netflix employees. Chappelle has not apologized for his racist and homophobic content. 

According to Indie Wire, Chappelle signed a lucrative deal with Netflix that paid him $20 million for each special released on the streaming platform. Sources such as Hollywood Reporter and NBC News have confirmed that Chappelle will host and produce four additional comedy specials in the coming years. Business Insider reports that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended “The Closer,” stating that Chappelle’s content “doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”

More recently, on Nov. 12 Chappelle hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL), the well-known late-night sketch comedy show. This is his third time hosting the live-show; the previous occurrence was in 2020, following the election of President Biden. 

Chappelle opened his most recent monologue for SNL by stating, “I denounce anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community. And that, Kanye is how you buy yourself some time.” 

The statement was met with laughter from the audience and mixed reviews online — many finding his skit littered with anti-Semitism.  

USD junior Mia Griffiths believes Chappelle’s comedy should not be condoned. 

“Homophobia, racism, transphobia, etc. have no place in comedy,” Griffiths said. “I think that comedy is meant to be a place for people to have fun and enjoy the moment, and comics who play into tearing down others do not deserve the space or platform to express their ideals.” 

Many SNL staff writers were angered by the decision for Chappelle to host the show and decided to sit out from the episode altogether. SNL’s first transgender and non-binary staff writer Celeste Yim was among those boycotting and wrote on their Instagram story, “I’m trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.”

SNL staff writer Bowen Yang also posted on his Instagram story, “Transphobia results in trans suicidality. The people most likely to kill themselves are Black trans people and then non-Black trans people.” 

An insider of the SNL show told Page Six that while many writers refused to participate in the show, none of the actors boycotted. 

USD junior Colby Crispeno believes that Chappelle’s content is harmful to many communities. 

“I think some [form] of boycotting is necessary because of how harmful Dave Chappelle’s words can be, especially to the transgender community,” Crispeno said. “I absolutely respect [the staff members’] decision to say ‘I cannot be here and I cannot stand for this.’”

Griffiths also showed support for the writers that walked off the show’s taping. 

“I think that it shows solidarity for those who Chappelle has hurt in the past and recognizes that they don’t stand behind SNL allowing him this platform,” Griffiths said.

Many viewers took offense with Chappelle’s history of transphobic jokes. The National Library of Medicine explains that as of 2020, 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide and 40% have attempted — with suicidality the highest among transgender youth.

Despite disagreement over his past and present comedy, Chappelle — partnered with Chris Rock — is hosting his comedy tour in San Diego at the Viejas Arena Stadium in the beginning of December. 

“I think anyone going to the show is supporting [him] and giving their stamp of approval,” Crispeno said. “Dave Chappelle does not need the money. We should be putting that money — however much those tickets are — into a transgender helpline and suicide helpline.”

Earlier this year, his performance in Minneapolis was canceled following transgender rights protests outside the venue. The show was instead held at Varsity Theater, where the protests then continued. 

While Chappelle is not the only comedian to produce controversial content, his immense popularity has left many concerned for the future. 

For those in need of help, advice, or someone to talk to, below are some mental health resources for the transgender community.

Trans Lifeline: translifeling.org

PFLAG: pflag.org/hotlines

California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov.