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Culture

Dave Chappelle Under Scrutiny For Derogatory Comments About Transgender Women In New Comedy Special

Chappelle made remarks about trans women's private areas.

by Ty Cole

October 07, 2021 at 4:13 pm

Dave Chappelle has found himself embroiled in controversy again after crude remarks about the transgender community.

In the final installment of his Netflix series, the Comedy Central alum made remarks about the private area of transgender women, referring to it as "impossible "p***y." The phrase referenced Impossible vegetarian burgers.

Variety reports LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD put out a statement on Twitter calling out the comedian for "ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities."

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

Deadline reports the National Black Justice Coalition's executive director David Johns is urging for the streaming platform to remove the special and released a statement.

"It is deeply disappointing that Netflix allowed Dave Chappelle's lazy and hostile transphobia and homophobia to air on its platform," Johns said. "With 2021 on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States — the majority of whom are Black transgender people — Netflix should know better. Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence."

He continued, saying Netflix should also apologize to the transgender community.

"Make no mistake: Black LGBTQ+ and same gender people exist — and have always existed. The fight against oppression is not a zero-sum game, and the pervasiveness of white supremacy in the United States is not an excuse for homophobia or transphobia," he added.

Jaclyn Moore, showrunner on the Dear White People series, said she's now "done" with the streaming service.

I love so many of the people I've worked with at Netflix. Brilliant people and executives who have been collaborative and fought for important art… But I've been thrown against walls because, "I'm not a 'real' woman." I've had beer bottles thrown at me. So, @Netflix, I'm done. https://t.co/2naqrzW0G2

— Jaclyn Moore (@JaclynPMoore) October 7, 2021

“I will not work with them as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content,” she added.

The 48-year-old comedian also mentioned DaBaby in his material, comparing the rapper's 2019 dismissed case for a fatal shooting in Walmart and his LGBTQIA+ comments. He joked that the people canceled the star for his homophobia instead of allegedly killing someone.

Chappelle wrapped his special by telling the queer community in the audience that he refuses to make another joke unless everyone is laughing together with him.

“I am not telling another joke about you until we are both sure that we are laughing together,” he said.

After mentioning his close friendship with now-deceased transgender comedian Daphne Dorman, he pleaded with the audience to "stop punching down" on his people.

Chappelle has yet to respond to the backlash.