Comedian Dave Chappelle is celebrating being “canceled” for remarks he made about transgender people.
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, “Chappelle took center stage Thursday night at a star-studded and sold-out show at L.A.’s iconic Hollywood Bowl. Though the superstar comedian did not repeat any of the jokes that have been loudly rejected by members of the LGBTQ community, GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition, he thumbed his nose at the notion of cancel culture while also promoting messages of kindness and love.”
The comedian addressed the controversy around comments he made in his new special “The Closer” which led to accusations that he ridiculed transgender people.
“If this is what being canceled is like, I love it,” Chappelle said which reportedly received a standing ovation from the crowd on Thursday.
He added, “F*** Twitter. F*** NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid ass networks. I’m not talking to them. I’m talking to you. This is real life.”
In his special, Chappelle declared, “Gender is a fact.”
“Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact,” he added.
At a separate point, he defended author J.K Rowling who has faced controversy after she said she is a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist” or “TERF.”
As The Hill notes Chappelle went on to use “crude terms to compare a transgender person’s anatomy to a Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger.
The Human Rights Campaign reacted to Chappelle’s comments writing in a tweet, “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary.”
“CC: Dave Chappelle,” it added.
🗣️Trans women are women.
— HRC 🥥🌴 (@HRC) October 6, 2021
Trans men are men.
Non-binary people are non-binary.
CC: Dave Chappelle
GLAAD also criticized the comedian, writing, “Dave Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities. Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don’t support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree.”
Dave Chappelle's brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities. Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don't support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree. https://t.co/yOIyT54819
— GLAAD (@glaad) October 6, 2021
In a 2017 interview, Chappelle said he is not transphobic, “I wouldn’t consider myself that because I’m not even sure what the term means.”
“Do I discriminate against somebody because they’re trans? I would like to think absolutely not,” he added.