Dave Chappelle Faces Backlash for “Ridiculing Trans People” in New Netflix Special ‘The Closer’

Comedian Dave Chappelle is facing backlash for over remarks he made about trans people and LGBTQ+ communities in his new Netflix stand-up special, The Closer.

The Closer premiered on Netflix on Tuesday, marking Chappelle’s sixth and final comedy special for the streamer. In his latest project, Chappelle makes a series of explicit jokes about trans women and the validity of their gender, before defending previous derogatory comments made by figures like Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and rapper DaBaby.

“In this country, you can shoot and kill a [n-word], but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings,” he added. Chappelle also addressed his history of using jokes about the LGBTQ+ community in his stand-up routines, insisting that he never told transphobic jokes. However, Chappelle said he was jealous of the progress the LGBTQ+ community has made compared to Black people, despite the fact that trans women of color have historically played a key role in leading the LGBTQ+ movement, and Black trans women are disproportionately affected by anti-trans violence.

Chappelle’s comments about trans and LGBTQ+ communities in The Closer soon sparked criticism.

GLAAD issued a statement about the special, saying, “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.”

Dear White People executive producer Jaclyn Moore also spoke out about the controversy in a Twitter thread.

Moore began by quote-tweeting a previous tweet about sharing her transition story for Netflix’s Pride week, writing, “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.”

She added that she would no longer work with the streamer “as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.”

In a statement to Deadline, National Black Justice Coalition executive director David Johns called for The Closer to be removed from Netflix.

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