Chappelle is unapologetic in his first public statement on ‘The Closer’ controversy
Dave Chappelle is speaking out about the controversy surrounding his recent Netflix comedy special The Closer — saying he is open to meeting with LGBTQ employees of the company who are critical of the special, but says he will not be “bending to anyone’s demands.”
In a video clip posted to Instagram Monday, Chappelle remains unapologetic about the special, which includes transphobic material that has angered many in the LGBTQ community, at Netflix and beyond.
“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. It seems like I’m the only one that can’t go to the office anymore,” he said in the five-minute video.
Chappelle was referring to pushback from Netflix employees who participated in a walkout last week after the company stood by the comedian and allowed The Closer to remain on the streaming platform.
Netflix also recently fired an employee connected to the blowback over how Chappelle and the comedy special are being handled. Netflix officials allege the employee leaked “confidential, commercially sensitive information” to Bloomberg.
The controversy over The Closer — which has been available on Netflix since early October — has been brewing for weeks. In the special, Chappelle jokes about trans women and their genitalia and defends J.K. Rowling against critics who say she is transphobic and more.
Earlier this month in an interview with CNN, several trans comedians said they felt that Chappelle’s comments were an example of “punching down” on those with less power and how the comedian continues to “scapegoat trans people.”
But according to Chappelle in Monday’s video, “everyone I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supportive. So I don’t know what this nonsense is about.”
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Gadsby, 43, is an Australian comedian, writer, actress and television presenter who rose to fame after winning a comedy competition in 2006.
She was born in Tasmania and went to high school at Launceston College where in her final year she suffered a nervous breakdown.
Gadsby worked a hodgepodge of jobs after leaving school and at one stage was hospitalised for ADHD.
She addresses her battle with sexual identity and mental health in her comedy and in 2018 released Nanette on Netflix – a film version of her stand-up show which tackled these issues head on.
The show was a hit and a year later Gadsby previewed her latest comedy show, Douglas, to packed audiences around the world.
In April 2021, Gadsby announced on Instagram that she had married producer Jenney Shamash in January 2021.
She said: “We got married in January and we are very chuffed about it. For the record: this is me gushing. I am full of very positive feelings.
“This is a nice story. My heart felt thanks to everybody who voted for marriage equality.”
What has she said about Netflix?
Gadsby claims she was dragged into the latest row about Chappelle’s controversial show The Closer by Netflix.
The stream service has received mounting criticism for the series and its portrayal of the trans community.
When CEO Ted Sarandos showcased Gadsby’s work as an example of Netflix’s range of diverse content, Gadsby hit back: “Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess.
“Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chapelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view.”
Following the controversy surrounding Dave Chappelle’s latest special “The Closer,” the comedian is working to change the narrative, targeting corporations and not the transgender community he took aim at in his Netflix show.
“I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames this that it’s me versus that community, that is not what it is,” Chappelle said in a video on his Instagram Monday, during a what appeared to be a recording of a recent live set. “Do not blame the LBGTQ (sic) community for any of this (expletive). This has nothing to do with them. It’s about corporate interest, and what I can say, and what I cannot say.”
The special led to a Netflix employee walkout and confrontations between Chappelle fans and trans rights advocates.
“For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supporting,” Chappelle continued. “So I don’t know what all this nonsense is about.”
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