Es hora de sentarse: el último especial de stand-up de Dave Chappelle, 'The Closer', ha provocado indignación entre muchos espectadores de Netflix
(Picture: Mathieu Bitton/Netflix)Dave Chapelle, the US comedian under fire for controversial comments about the trans community made during his Netflix special The Closer, has attracted further controversy after he told students at his old high school that he was “better than all of you”.
It comes after Chappelle labelled himself a “Terf” during the comedy show, which hit the streaming platform in October. Terf stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
He told the audience: “They cancelled J. K. Rowling – my God. Effectively, she said gender was a fact, the trans community got mad as s***, they started calling her a Terf.
“I am team Terf. I agree.
“I agree, man. Gender is a fact.”
In the same segment, the 48-year-old went on to add that he was “not saying that to say trans women aren’t women” and that “people who watch my specials would know that I never had a problem with transgender people”.
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Netflix employees staged a walkout over the decision to air the special, while its co-chief executive Ted Sarandos backed Chappelle in an internal memo, writing that it did not cross “the line on hate”.
The comic later said that he was “more than willing” to give the trans community “an audience”, but added that he would not be “summoned”.
“I am not bending to anybody’s demands,” he said.
Now, the comedian has sparked further controversy after he reportedly told students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, based in Washington D.C., that he was “better” than them.
According to Politico, Chapelle responded to a question from one of the roughly 580 students in the audience by saying, “I’m better than every instrumentalist, artist… No matter what art you do in this school, right now, I’m better than all of you.
“I’m sure that will change. I’m sure you’ll be household names soon.”
Yikes. Talk about a backhanded compliment…
When another student called him a “bigot”, who “handled [the backlash] like a child”, Chappelle allegedly replied: “My friend, with all due respect, I don’t believe you could make one of the decisions I have to make on a given day.”
Politico also published claims that Chappelle used the n-word when answering a comment from one student who said his comedy “kills”.
One parent, who was not named, told the outlet: “He was being dead serious and using the n-word on the record. What kind of judgement is the school showing to allow that?”
Chappelle’s comments have since sparked further criticism, with many pointing out that he was arguing with actual children:
The trans community didn’t force Dave Chappelle to go to his old high school and berate those kids—his ego did. This isn’t about the trans community vs Dave. It’s about the next generation vs. the toxic ideologies that threaten their futures. Our youth understand the assignment.
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) November 26, 2021
defiant dave chappelle to high school student: ‘i am more successful than a high school student’
— man it’s a hot zone, (@Mobute) November 26, 2021
48 year old Dave Chappelle going to a q+a made up of high schoolers https://t.co/SvRfycgHzs pic.twitter.com/fT4GvzJLD7
— Blake © ™ ® (@NeilNevins) November 25, 2021
I can't stop thinking about Dave Chappelle going to his old high school and starting fights with children about if his new material is funny or not lol
— Quinton Reviews 🎬 (@Q_Review) November 26, 2021
imagine some kid being like "Man, I miss 2016 Quinton" and i just burst down the door
"who said that. who the fuck said that."
sure glad Dave Chappelle can defend himself from being cancelled by the all-powerful (checks notes) high school student cabal https://t.co/4AvhdIBeS8
— Terra Field (@RainofTerra) November 25, 2021
Chappelle had an assembly at his old high school to hold a "dialogue" about his recent special with the kids there and when they said they didn't like the jokes and thought they were harmful he was basically just like "I'm rich and famous and y'all aren't"
— Wakandantechsupport (@SkylerB97) November 26, 2021
in awe at the energy of dave chappelle going back to his old high school to yell at kids for not thinking he's funny anymore
— Ryan Boyd (@ryandroyd) November 26, 2021
im still stuck on dave chappelle going back to his high school to find people he can feel superior to and then not letting them record the assembly
— nora (@NoraReed) November 27, 2021
“No matter what art you do I’m better than you” pic.twitter.com/hPVyO3FReX
—  (@HijaDe2Madre) November 25, 2021
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
— Jasper 'Lope - Enough is Enough (@Jasperlope) November 25, 2021
-Maya Angelou
"I'm better than all of you" nice
— Being rich is very hard. (@EvelynxPrime) November 25, 2021
It’s very cool and normal to lecture an auditorium of students about how funny your comedy was and why they should have laughed
— kevmotronic (@kevmotronic) November 25, 2021
Lol, if Dave REALLY stands by his jokes and his work, he should just let it be and allow it to stand for what it is and be interpreted and dissected on its merits.
— Anthony Fantano (10 Minute Version) (@theneedledrop) November 26, 2021
The fact that he needs to keep fighting, responding, defending, and whatabout-ing says something. https://t.co/0OBeoxGnvO
Really poor judgment of the school to hold this event. They should be protecting students well being first and foremost. Having a millionaire celebrity mock you in front of your school is very fucked up and totally avoidable. https://t.co/g8UoklDDes
— Wagatwe Wanjuki 🇰🇪 🇧🇸 (@wagatwe) November 26, 2021
Following the incident, Chappelle’s spokesperson Carla Sims said: “They are complaining that he talked and said the n-word.
“If anything, Dave is putting the school on the map.”
A Duke Ellington spokesperson said: “During the conversation with students and staff, Chappelle specifically invited the voices of discontent to ask questions, however as a result, the supporters of Chappelle became the silent majority.
“Our principal was approached by several students after the assembly who were disappointed that they were not able to voice their support for Chappelle in this forum.”
Chappelle has been a big supporter of the school over the years, donating $100,000 and donating one of his Emmy Awards in 2017.
