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Comedian Patton Oswalt is speaking out after receiving backlash for performing with Dave Chappelle on New Year’s Eve. Chappelle has been a source of controversy since he released his October 2021 Netflix special The Closer, in which he makes a series of derogatory jokes about the transgender community. On Jan. 2, Oswalt took to Instagram to clear up his involvement with Chappelle, calling himself both “an LGBTQ ally” and “a loyal friend.”
“I saw a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time this New Year’s Eve,” Oswalt began.”We’ve known each other since we’re teens. He’s a fellow comedian, the funniest I’ve ever met. I wanted to post a pic & an IG story about it — so I did. The friend is Dave Chappelle. Thirty four YEARS we’ve been friends.”
Oswalt explained that he was finishing a set in Seattle on New Year’s Eve when Chappelle texted, inviting him to perform a guest set at his own nearby show, Dave Chappelle and Friends. He also clarified that he and Chappelle “100% disagree about transgender rights & representation.”
“I support trans peoples’ rights —ANYONE’s rights — to live safely in the world as their fullest selves. For all the things he’s helped ME evolve on, I’ll always disagree with where he stands NOW on transgender issues,” Oswalt continued. “But I also don’t believe a seeker like him is done evolving, learning. You know someone that long, see the struggles and changes, it’s impossible to cut them off. Impossible not to be hopeful and open and cheer them on.”
Oswalt also apologized to those he offended, writing, “I didn’t consider the hurt this would cause. Or the DEPTH of that hurt. I’ve been messaging a lot on IG today and the back and forth has really helped guide me in the writing of this. … So easy to think someone ELSE needs growth and miss the need in yourself. Gonna keep trying.”
While Oswalt responded to the backlash he received quickly, Chappelle and Netflix’s handling of The Closer controversy has been much more complicated. Several transgender Netflix employees and their allies staged an October walkout to protest the streamer’s decision to release and stand by the special. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos received additional criticism for insisting in a company memo that “content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm” (he has since said he “screwed up,” but still supports by The Closer). Although Chappelle claimed he was willing to meet with trans employees at Netflix (despite his unwillingness to “bend to anybody’s demands), media personality Ashlee Marie Preston revealed at the rally that Chappelle turned down the organizers’ request to meet.
“We’re up against the emergence of a hate economy,” Preston said. “And there is this manipulation of algorithmic science that distorts the way that we perceive ourselves and others. And I think that companies like Netflix, Facebook, and Instagram, they play into it, and they monetize it. And so I think that it is important to show up.”
