No takers for Dave Chappelle’s film; comedian asks if he’s cancelled, amid transgender controversy

The comedian, whose last show for Netflix, The Closer, had been called out for its anti-LGBTQIA+ stance, says he is willing to give the community an audience, but that he will not be summoned or bend to anybody’s demands.

Dave Chappelle

Earlier today, comedian Dave Chappelle released a 5-minute video on social media to address the transgender controversy at Netflix, in the aftermath of a protest at the streaming giant’s headquarters about the former’s last comedy special, The Closer. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos had, in an official staff memo acknowledged Chappelle’s provocative language in The Closer, but added that it did not cross the line into inciting violence.

The show was widely panned by critics for being insensitive towards the LGBTQIA+ community, although Dave repeatedly said that was not the case. Over 20-days after the show dropped on Netflix, Dave finally decided to address the elephant in the room, with a video in which he said, “It’s been said in the press that I was invited to speak to transgender employees at Netflix and I refused. That is not true. If they had invited me, I would have accepted it. Although I am confused about what we are speaking about ...I said what I said and boy, I heard what you said. My god, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. Well, it seems like I’m the only one that can’t go to the office anymore,” said Dave in the video of what appeared to be a show with a live audience.

He added, “I want everyone in this audience to know, that even though the media frames it that it is me vs that community, that is not what it is. Do not blame the LBGTQIA+ community for any of this shit. This has nothing to do with them; it’s about corporate interests and what I can say and what I cannot say. For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone that I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supportive, so I don’t know what all this nonsense is about. In the summer of 2020, when the whole world shut down, I was outside, doing shows. My neighbour had a cornfield and he let me throw shows there. People came from all over the country and the world to see those shows. The best comedians on earth came to my home and broke bread with me. And we lived our lives and found a way to keep moving forward. I made a whole documentary about it. The first night of those shows is a piece that some of you might have seen, it’s called 8:46 and it dealt with the death, the murder, of George Floyd. This film that I made was invited to every film festival in the United States and some of those invitations I accepted, and when this controversy about The Closer came out, they began disinviting me. And now, they, not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival, would touch this film. Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, he is the only one that didn’t cancel me yet.”

Addressing the LGBTQIA+ community, he said, “To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody’s demands. If you want to meet with me, I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place and time of my choosing. And third, you must admit that Hannah Gatsby is not funny.”

On a parting note, referring to his documentary, Dave said, “I desperately want people to see this movie, but I understand why investors would be nervous. Since no one will touch it, I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll make it available for all of you in 10 American cities, going on sale in the next few days. You will be able to see this movie in its entirety and you can see what they are trying to obstruct you from seeing. And you can judge for yourself. But you cannot have this conversation and exclude my voice from it. That is only fair; you have to answer the question – Am I cancelled or not? Then let’s go. Thank you very much.”

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