Latest news with #YellowSprings
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Chappelle Screens Unreleased Documentary ‘Live in Real Life,' About His COVID Comedy Shows, to Raise Money for His High School Alma Mater
In the summer of 2020, several unrelenting months into the COVID pandemic, comedian Dave Chappelle decided he had to do something to bring his community back to life. Like the rest of the world, Chappelle was sequestered at home with his family, so he decided to use his resources to make a change. After renting out a cornfield down the street from his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Chappelle began hosting socially distanced concerts with his friends, musicians and fellow comedians. He filmed the entire process for the independent documentary, 'Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life.' The film, directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021, under its original title, 'Dave Chappelle: This Time, This Place.' However, it failed to gain distribution after the backlash to his 2021 stand-up special, 'The Closer,' in which he told a series of transphobic jokes. Now, four years later, the retitled documentary screened at the 23rd annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) on Friday night. After the credits rolled, Chappelle took the stage to address the audience and even spoke candidly about those poorly received jokes, 'I've gone on to get snubbed by the Grammys and the Emmys because someone thought it was a good idea to tell trans jokes,' he said. More from Variety Michelle Obama and Natasha Rothwell on 'Who TF Did I Marry?,' Being Seen and Community Building Tracee Ellis Ross on Centering Her Happiness and the Joys of Overpacking in 'Solo Traveling' and Her 'Dream List' of Destinations For Season 2 Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson to Record Live Podcast Taping at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE) 'Dave Chappelle Live In Real Life' seems to be a sign that the Grammy-award-winning comedian is focusing on something new. The documentary is heartfelt and full of Chapelle's signature humor, showcasing familiar faces — everyone from Kevin Hart, David Letterman, Jon Hamm, The Roots and Chris Rock — who stopped by on the weekends to riff, chat and dance with audiences during those summer shows. 'It took a lot of courage for all of those comedians to come out there because COVID was so new. Everyone was still so isolated, and it was real fear,' Chappelle said during the post-screening talkback in which he took questions from the audience (a sold-out crowd that included fellow comedian David Letterman and CBS News' Gayle King). 'And the other thing is, no one had worked in a hundred nights. Everyone stunk when they got there, but it didn't matter. It was so much fun to be together again. It was just like when we all started in the comedy club, we realized how much we loved being around each other.' The film screened at MVAAFF as part of Chappelle's efforts to raise funds for his alma mater, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the event's ticket sales went to the high school, which the comedian has credited for changing his life. 'Ellington gave me a sense of community,' he said. 'It was a predominantly Black school when I went there, and that was important because everything in the news was so negative.' 'Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life' chronicles how the comedy show expanded into a summer series with more than 50 shows produced to date, a phenomenon that thrilled some Yellow Springs residents and enraged others. It also showcases the lengths that Chappelle and his crew went to ensure that everyone in the audience, as well as the performers and crew, remained safe and healthy. 'During the summer of 2020, it was about to be a mass exodus from the town,' he said, reflecting on Yellow Springs' economic state. 'People wanted to sell their shops and their businesses. The reason I knew this is because everyone would see me on television and assume I had all this money… because I do. So they were coming, trying to sell me all this shit. And I realized that, oh man, everyone's leaving. This is going to be a big deal. So quietly, I bought a lot of real estate in the town. This is not something that I wanted to do. It was something that was necessary in the moment. And they were pleased about it because I didn't charge anybody rent for two years.' Chappelle shared that not only did the summer shows safely bring people together who were struggling in isolation, but they also contributed $9 million to the town's economy. For him, the mission was simple. 'If you want things to change, you have to change shit,' he said. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
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
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Black bear spotted for 2nd time in Greene County, police say
A black bear has been seen for the second time in Greene County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Yellow Springs Police Department wrote in a social media post on Sunday night that 'a fuzzy friend' made a surprise stop. They named him Mosey. 'Mosey isn't looking for trouble — just snacks and solitude (and moseying),' they said on its Facebook page. As previously reported by News Center 7, a woman spotted a black bear while driving through Greene County on June 19. TRENDING STORIES: 4 passengers, 2 crew members dead after Ohio plane crash 'I think somebody's dead;' 911 calls reveal details of Springfield mass shooting Motorcyclist ejected off bridge into Ohio River; Recovery operation underway It was first seen in Clinton County more than three weeks ago but was spotted in Greene County near U.S. 68. ODNR said that black bears are naturally skittish and tend to run away from people and noise, according to Yellow Springs Police. The department said that people should not roll out 'the welcome mat.' ODNR has these tips: Keep trash inside a garage or secure location Take down bird feeders (yes, even the cute ones) Keep pet food indoors Clean grease from outdoor grills Pick up fallen fruit from trees and gardens Yellow Springs Police said people should give 'Mosey' space to roam, sniff, and move on. 'Please don't approach, feed, or follow the bear. Call your local police department or ODNR,' they said. ODNR will continue to monitor the bear but will not interfere with the bear's natural summer movements. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yellow Springs' state audit lists $19K penalty; Matt Dillon blames IRS, village
Jun. 10—The Ohio Auditor of State issued a finding for recovery of nearly $20,000 Tuesday against several former Yellow Springs officials who failed to pay federal tax withholdings on time, as well as late fees and penalties. The Ohio Auditor's Office issued a finding of recovery for $19,512.40 for fiscal year 2023, the vast majority of which is attributed to former village finance director Matt Dillon. Dillon left the position in 2022. Auditors found that Dillon "failed to timely remit payroll withholdings and filings to the federal government, leading to late fees, penalties, and interest," the majority of which would have been avoided had filings been on time, auditors said. Former village manager Josue Salmeron and former finance director Amy Kemper were also implicated in the report, but on a much smaller finding: Salmeron was deemed responsible for $156.95, and Kemper for $136.13, both of which have been repaid, according to the state. Dillon and his bonding company are responsible for the remaining $19,219.32, auditors said. Reached for comment Tuesday, Dillon said he has been forthcoming with the state's independent auditors, but feels that the nearly $20,000 amount is a punitive amount to be placed on one person for a "clerical error." "I'm a public servant," he said. "I try to be a financial steward, and I take that very, very seriously." The auditor's report shows that the breakdown of the findings for recovery include: — $4,657.30 for late filing of one Federal 941 Form; — $5,002.19 for seven instances of failure to submit withholdings; — $9,520.00 for incorrect filing of one Form 1099; — $332.91 for seven instances of interest for failure to pay IRS penalties. Dillon served as Yellow Springs' finance director for only two years. He added that during that time he repeatedly sought guidance from the IRS as to how to properly complete filings, but received no response, in part due to the effects of COVID on the IRS at the time. "With some of these, like payroll withholdings, we're submitting things without feedback to a black hole," he said. Dillon further alleged that many of the tasks assigned to him in the role had more to do with Village Council's pet projects, rather than maintaining solid fundamentals of bookkeeping. "Yellow Springs is the type of town that comes up with lots of extracurricular municipal activities that are beyond the basics. Like, 'Hey, let me just do what I need to do,' which is to make sure our taxes are good." Dillon said he is looking into his options to appeal the monetary charge. Leadership for the village of Yellow Springs did not return a request for comment Tuesday.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Major storm wreaks havoc at Glen Helen Nature Preserve
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Glen Helen Nature Preserve in Yellow Springs announced an emergency partial closure because of major storm damage on Sunday. 'Last night, a storm unlike any we've seen in years tore through the Glen,' wrote the preserve on social media. The storm destroyed the boardwalk, lifting entire sections and causing a massive tree to crash through it, making it unusable. The stream has grown into a river from rainwater. The beavers were displaced from their homes because of he flooding. Glen Helen has asked the public to help. 'We are facing one of the largest restoration efforts and we can't do this alone. If you love this place – if you've ever walked these paths for peace, for inspiration, for connection – we need you,' wrote Glen Helen. Dave Chappelle announces summer shows; tickets on sale Friday People are asked to volunteer in the rebuilding or to donate to help cover the costs. 'Every gift, every helping hand, is a step toward healing the land that has given so much to so many. Together, we can restore what was shaken,' wrote Geln Helen. 'Together, we hold the Glen.' To learn more about helping the nature preserve, click here. Until further notice, the 405 Cory Street entrance is closed for safety. People are asked to use the Cascades parking lot at 1075 State Route 343. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
