Dave Chappelle has released a new Netflix special, The Dreamer, which is full of jokes about the trans community and disabled people.
“I love punching down!” he tells the audience, in a one-hour show that landed on the streaming service today (31 December).
It’s his seventh special for Netflix and comes two years after his last one, the highly controversial release The Closer.
That programme was criticised for its relentless jokes about the trans community, and Chappelle revisits the topic in his new show.
He tells jokes about trans women in prison, and about trans people “pretending” to be somebody they are not.
Wells that’s a bit creepy of you…. But I think most people can tell the difference between being attacked (in this case, supporting the murder of gays) and being the subject of a joke ?
Maybe not, maybe that’s the problem, right ?
You’re attempting to compare a comedian telling jokes, to an elected official advocating murder. That’s always going to be a difficult thing to do.
I know. Having a memory of something that happened a few days ago and an ability to use a search function sure is creepy.
Also, the ‘being attacked’ you are talking about is someone saying, “Another ancient white guy. Color me shocked.”
Which… I don’t know… seems a whole lot less offensive than using multiple Netflix specials to repeatedly demean trans people.
But you’re right, “Another ancient white guy. Color me shocked.” That’s just beyond the pale. What a vicious, heard-hearted, racist attack!
He’s not telling jokes. He’s repeatedly making statements that trans women aren’t real women. The very same statements that are being legislated around the country denying trans people the right to use bathrooms, participate in sports, receive necessary healthcare, have parental rights, etc. it would be like a white comic in the 40s “joking” about black people using their own bathrooms or water fountains.