Dave Chappelle, internet hosting NBC’s “Saturday Night time Reside” for the third time, kicked off the present with a roughly 15-minute monologue that tackled hip-hop artist Ye’s antisemitic feedback, the midterm elections and former President Donald Trump’s political enchantment.
The comic, recognized for courting controversy and defying his most vocal critics, didn’t instantly tackle the furor over his feedback concerning the transgender neighborhood in a Netflix comedy particular launched final yr.
Chappelle took the stage inside Rockefeller Heart’s Studio 8H and began his monologue with an prolonged riff on Ye, previously often known as Kanye West, who has been broadly condemned for making a sequence of antisemitic feedback.
The comic learn a short assertion: “I denounce antisemitism in all its varieties and I stand with my mates within the Jewish neighborhood — and that, Kanye, is how you purchase your self a while.”
Chappelle mocked Ye in addition to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who posted a hyperlink to an antisemitic film on Twitter. However a few of Chappelle’s commentary appeared designed not less than partially to shock and provoke.
“I have been to Hollywood, and that is simply what I noticed: It is lots of Jews, like lots,” Chappelle stated to laughter. “However that does not imply something, what I imply? There’s lots of Black folks in Ferguson, Missouri, however that does not imply we run the place.”
Chappelle’s feedback about antisemitism drew a combined response on Twitter, the place some viewers criticized him for showing to downplay Ye’s remarks or site visitors in problematic stereotypes.
Chappelle ultimately pivoted to different matters, together with the midterm elections.
He ridiculed Herschel Walker, the scandal-plagued Republican nominee for Senate in Georgia, who’s headed to a runoff contest towards Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock in December.
“I do not wish to communicate badly of him, as a result of he is Black,” Chapelle stated, referring to Walker. “However I’ve to confess, he is observably silly.”
Chappelle then defined why he believes Trump is well-liked with voters in locations like Ohio, the place he lives. He described the previous president (and potential 2024 contender) as an “trustworthy liar.”
“He was cherished as a result of folks in Ohio have by no means seen anybody like him,” Chappelle stated. “He’s an trustworthy liar. He stated, ‘I do know the system is rigged as a result of I take advantage of it.'”
Chappelle beforehand hosted “SNL” the weekend after the final two presidential elections.
He emceed 4 days after Trump’s upset victory in 2016, joking in his monologue that voters had elected an “web troll.” He returned 4 years later, taking the stage hours after President Joe Biden was projected to have defeated Trump.
In recent times, Chappelle has attracted intense scrutiny for his public feedback about transgender folks, significantly after Netflix launched his most up-to-date stand-up particular, “The Nearer.”
“The Nearer,” launched Oct. 5, 2021, drew accusations of transphobia and plunged the streaming big right into a messy public relations disaster.
A whole bunch of LGBTQ activists and Netflix employees marched outdoors the corporate’s Los Angeles headquarters later that month to protest the particular.
The leaders of Netflix, for his or her half, stood by Chappelle.
“We work arduous to help their artistic freedom — despite the fact that this implies there’ll at all times be content material on Netflix some folks imagine is dangerous,” Netflix co-chief Ted Sarandos informed employees on the time.
Netflix and Chappelle continued to make it clear they have been sticking collectively, saying in February that the comic would produce and host 4 specials that includes stand-ups he handpicked.
In late April of this yr, Chappelle defended himself throughout a sold-out efficiency at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on the primary night time of Netflix’s annual comedy pageant.
Chappelle, pacing across the stage and smoking a cigarette, informed the viewers of 1000’s on April 29 that he made “The Nearer” with good intentions. He then went on to make a number of jokes about trans folks, together with faculty swimming star Lia Thomas.
4 days later, Chappelle was bodily attacked onstage on the Hollywood Bowl, charged and tackled by a person carrying a duplicate gun.
The suspect, who identifies as bisexual, later stated he discovered Chapelle’s present “triggering.” He was charged in Could with 4 misdemeanor counts.
Chappelle was not injured, and a Netflix spokesperson condemned the assault.
The forty eighth season of “SNL” premiered Oct. 1, and the hosts up to now have included Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow and Amy Schumer.
