Dave Chappelle criticized the Republican Party for politicizing transgender jokes.
“I was upset that the Republican Party was relying on transgender jokes. You know, I felt like they were doing a weaponized version of what I was doing. That’s not what I was doing,” Chappelle told NPR. Newsmakers program in an interview with host Michel Martin.
He recalled getting into an altercation with Republican Lauren Boebert and others on Capital Hill and cornering them for a photo op. “I just take pictures with whoever asks. I don’t ask them how they voted or what their voting record is,” Chappelle said.
“Then Lauren Boebert came up and said, ‘Can I get a picture?’ And I’ve already taken 40 photos. He added, “I didn’t want to say no in front of everyone, but I didn’t know the phrase ‘I respectfully decline.’ So Chappelle took the photo.”
“Then she posted the picture before I could even go from there to the show and she said something to the effect of, ‘Only two people know they’re just genderqueer,’” Chappelle continued. “Just immediately, like weaponizing or politicizing. So she got to the scene, and got her ass lit up for doing so. “She should never do that to someone like me,” Chappelle told NPR.
The comedy star’s comedy specials are on Netflix The closest (2021) and The dreamer (2023) included transgender jokes about cancel culture themes which led to backlash from members of the LGBTQ community and GLAAD, among others.
This criticism of harmful and degrading content for the transgender community at one point led Netflix employees and its allies to organize strikes and protests of the company outside the company’s offices in Hollywood.
Watch Chappelle’s full interview below.
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