Latest news with #DaveChappelle
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
If Dave Chappelle is a genius, why does his comedy punch down on trans people?
A friend recently invited me to a Dave Chappelle performance in Yellow Springs, about an hour north of Cincinnati. I passed. I didn't know what his routine would be, but I knew what I didn't want to hear. Chappelle is a masterful storyteller and one of the most talented comedians of our time. But his comedy increasingly leaves me uneasy − not because it's edgy, but because it too often reinforces the very prejudices it claims to poke fun at. I first felt this discomfort when Chappelle made a name for himself joking about Black people in ways that gave license to racists. I watched White audience members laugh a little too hard at sketches that, while brilliantly crafted, seemed to permit them to enjoy stereotypes they weren't supposed to say out loud. Chappelle himself later acknowledged this dynamic, and even walked away from a $50 million deal and his hit show on Comedy Central, "Chappelle's Show," when he saw people laughing with the characters instead of at the racism. But in his recent stand-up, Chappelle has shifted his focus toward the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender people, and I feel that same uneasiness again. Once more, I see people who likely hold deep biases laughing with a sense of vindication. "If Dave Chappelle can say it," they think, "so can I." Opinion: Don't take Dave Chappelle down. Lift transgender voices up. This isn't about being offended. It's about what comedy does. The best comedy punches up − it challenges power, exposes hypocrisy and speaks truth. But when it punches down, it can legitimize cruelty and reinforce systems of exclusion. Opinion: Pride reminded me capitalism can't save us from Trump. Only we can do that. Chappelle insists he's just telling the truth. But truth without compassion can sound a lot like contempt. When that contempt is aimed at groups already struggling to be seen and heard, it becomes more than a joke. It becomes part of the problem. So no, I won't attend the show. I admire Chappelle's genius. But I can't pretend not to see the cost of his notoriety, especially when it's borne by the people who are already fighting to be treated with dignity. We should all ask ourselves: When we laugh, who's hurting? Dennis Doyle lives in Anderson Township and is a member of the Board of Contributors at the Cincinnati Enquirer, where this column originally appeared. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chappelle isn't funny enough to tolerate his transphobia | Opinion
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
If Dave Chappelle is a genius, why does his comedy punch down on trans people?
The best comedy punches up − it challenges power, exposes hypocrisy and speaks truth. But when it punches down, it can legitimize cruelty and reinforce systems of exclusion. A friend recently invited me to a Dave Chappelle performance in Yellow Springs, about an hour north of Cincinnati. I passed. I didn't know what his routine would be, but I knew what I didn't want to hear. Chappelle is a masterful storyteller and one of the most talented comedians of our time. But his comedy increasingly leaves me uneasy − not because it's edgy, but because it too often reinforces the very prejudices it claims to poke fun at. I first felt this discomfort when Chappelle made a name for himself joking about Black people in ways that gave license to racists. I watched White audience members laugh a little too hard at sketches that, while brilliantly crafted, seemed to permit them to enjoy stereotypes they weren't supposed to say out loud. Chappelle himself later acknowledged this dynamic, and even walked away from a $50 million deal and his hit show on Comedy Central, "Chappelle's Show," when he saw people laughing with the characters instead of at the racism. But in his recent stand-up, Chappelle has shifted his focus toward the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender people, and I feel that same uneasiness again. Once more, I see people who likely hold deep biases laughing with a sense of vindication. "If Dave Chappelle can say it," they think, "so can I." Opinion: Don't take Dave Chappelle down. Lift transgender voices up. When the joke punches down, the harm hits hard This isn't about being offended. It's about what comedy does. The best comedy punches up − it challenges power, exposes hypocrisy and speaks truth. But when it punches down, it can legitimize cruelty and reinforce systems of exclusion. Opinion: Pride reminded me capitalism can't save us from Trump. Only we can do that. Chappelle insists he's just telling the truth. But truth without compassion can sound a lot like contempt. When that contempt is aimed at groups already struggling to be seen and heard, it becomes more than a joke. It becomes part of the problem. So no, I won't attend the show. I admire Chappelle's genius. But I can't pretend not to see the cost of his notoriety, especially when it's borne by the people who are already fighting to be treated with dignity. We should all ask ourselves: When we laugh, who's hurting? Dennis Doyle lives in Anderson Township and is a member of the Board of Contributors at the Cincinnati Enquirer, where this column originally appeared.
The National
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Is life more fun with our phones locked away? And a look at Glastonbury surprises
On Culture Bites this week, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about the perks of going phone-free during comedy shows. Enas tells Farah about her experience of watching Dave Chappelle's stand-up act in Abu Dhabi where the provocative comedian took to the stage for a second year in a row. Attendees had to secure their smart devices in locked pouches to ensure no one filmed the performance. The hosts reflect on how a phone-free environment can enrich the audience experience and protect the arts from being overshared and diluted. Meanwhile, the Glastonbury Festival continues to make headlines all over the world even after it wrapped. Beyond the A-star line-up of headline acts, plenty of surprise sets kept fans on their toes: from an unexpected return by Lewis Capaldi to a performance by New Zealand singer Lorde. Enas and Farah talk about the power of commodifying surprises in a world where predictability reigns. here.
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Comedian Dave Chappelle calls out DJ Khaled on silence over Gaza war
Dave Chappelle called out Palestinian-American musician DJ Khaled for being silent on Israel's war on Gaza. The American comedian was performing at a sold-out Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday night as part of the Emirates' Comedy Season. When someone from the audience yelled DJ Khaled's name, Chappelle questioned his silence over the ongoing destruction and starvation in the Gaza Strip. 'DJ Khaled, let me tell you something. For a Palestinian, this man is awfully quiet right now. And as a Palestinian, how could you be that quiet right now? And why are you so fat? People are starving. He's the only fat Palestinian on Earth right now,' Chappelle joked. DJ Khaled has been highly criticized by activists and social media users for not speaking up on the "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza though he regularly showed pride in being Palestinian. Several notable celebrities and musicians have spoken up on the war in Gaza, including actor Mark Ruffalo, singer Kehlani, rapper Macklemore and others who have used their platform to condemn the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and urge world leaders for a ceasefire. Chappelle has also been outspoken about the suffering of the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Last year, during his show in Abu Dhabi, he described Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide' which was met with cheers from the audience. The 51-year-old comedian also roasted US President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran-Israel conflict during his set in Abu Dhabi. 'Trump – I don't know about this guy. I can't tell if he's going to do good or not,' Chapelle said, adding: 'What a week you guys must have had over here in the Middle East.' 'Trump wrote that 'we did a meticulously perfect attack. We have disabled their nuclear facility.' And then at the end of the post he said, 'And now is the time for peace!' Word? I don't think that's how this works, champ,' Chappelle said referring to Trump's post on Truth Social announcing the air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The National
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Dave Chappelle roasts Trump, Israel-Iran conflict and DJ Khaled's silence: 'This isn't how it works, champ'
Dave Chappelle roasted Donald Trump's handling of the Israel-Iran conflict during his show in Abu Dhabi on Friday night. Travelling to the Gulf days after a ceasefire went into effect, the American comedian made light of the US President's unpredictability during his performance at a sold-out Etihad Arena as part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. 'Trump – I don't know about this guy. I can't tell if he's going to do good or not,' Chapelle said, adding: 'What a week you guys must have had over here in the Middle East.' The 51-year-old entertainer also brought up the US President's Saturday Truth Social post announcing the air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. 'Trump wrote that 'we did a meticulously perfect attack. We have disabled their nuclear facility.' And then at the end of the post he said, 'and now is the time for peace!' Word? I don't think that's how this works, champ,' Chappelle said. The comedian also made reference to the March security scandal surrounding US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared attack plans on the Houthis through his Signal account. 'Trump bombed Iran, in an attack that was carefully planned on WhatsApp,' Chapelle said. Chappelle made light of growing concerns in the US regarding the ongoing regional conflict, saying: 'Everybody in America is scared. It's not good when Bible places are in the news. That means it might be the end of times. And if it is, you know what? I had a good run.' When an audience member yelled out the name of Palestinian-American musician DJ Khaled, the comedian questioned why the DJ has remained silent on the ongoing war in Gaza. 'DJ Khaled, let me tell you something. For a Palestinian, this man is awfully quiet right now. And as a Palestinian, how could you be that quiet right now? And why are you so fat? People are starving. He's the only fat Palestinian on earth right now,' Chappelle joked. Chappelle has been outspoken about the suffering of Palestinians ever since the Israel-Gaza war began. Last year, during his show in Abu Dhabi, he described Israel's actions in Gaza as ' genocide ' to cheers from the audience. He's tempered his criticism of Trump since his re-election, urging the American leader to have empathy for the people of Palestine during his January appearance on Saturday Night Live. And while he did not comment directly on Palestine in his latest UAE performance, he did end by making his stance on the matter clear. 'Now that I'm a big powerful voice in America, I've learnt that I have to be careful. I can get in some kind of trouble and they'll try to extort me and put words in my mouth so that I come out here and lie to you,' Chappelle said. 'So if that ever happens, we need a phrase. It has to be something that I would never say. So that if I say it, you know not to listen to anything I say after that. You ready? The phrase is: I stand with Israel.' Abu Dhabi Comedy Season 2025 is set to conclude next month with US comedian Bill Burr's performance on July 12.
