Promotional Image of "The Closer", courtesy of Netflix.
As we have seen in our coursework, cancellation has risen in popularity since the prevalence of the internet, but has historical roots, dating as far back as Socrates. For the purpose of this report, I would like to focus on Dave Chappelle.
I think it is important that I clarify that I, a cisgender, heterosexual white woman, have a privileged position in this discourse, and it is nowhere near my place to decide what is and what isn’t harmful to other communities and identities. I hope that anyone reading this (the internet is forever after all), will extend me the grace and understanding to listen to my thoughts, and respond thoughtfully below. I also don’t claim to make a strong position on any given argument, if anything using Chappelle as a case study has solidified the confusion that I have about how to respond to his material and the like.
Dave Chappelle faced intense backlash after his comedy special Sticks and Stones (2019), for jokes he made directed at survivors of sexual assault and LGBTQIA+ community members. I was unable to watch Sticks and Stones, so I will not be focusing so much on that work, rather my attention is drawn to The Closer (2021) in which he faced wide backlash for his jokes directed at LGBTQIA+ individual, more particularly trans people. Though I do admit that The Closer is not limited to a vacuum, it is a discourse connected to his early Netflix specials--it feels wrong to analyze one without the others.
When Dave originally published his specials, I decided to distance myself from his material, despite being a comedian that I enjoyed on Comedy Central. I wanted to be the best ally that I could be and I did not have the time and energy to watch the special or dive into the nuance of the argument at the time, so I simply stopped engaging with Chappelle’s content--though I also did not form a harsh opinion with content I didn’t see. I recognize that I was able to do this as a straight and cisgendered individual, other marginalized identities don’t have the privilege of distancing themselves from the harm caused by such rhetoric.
Closer certainly had some moments that I found offensive and a few moments I found funny. Though, I won’t outline every offensive thing said in this response.
For example, as a woman, I generally have a complicated relationship with “bitch”. It’s a very popular term that is used to dehumanize and animalize women at its very core, and has deep roots in misogyny. Though that is my individual experience, other women might feel differently. In Chappelle’s special he asks what about his comedy “would make these bitches think I hate women.” For me the joke is funny, since I know that Chappelle is pointing out the obvious-- the use of the derogatory, condescending word “Bitch” does indicate at least some sort of antipathy (at the most generous--hatred at the most extreme) towards women. He is aware of this contradiction, and it is this very contradiction that makes the joke funny to me, it is a rhetorical and discursive device that is extremely interesting. Though the excessive use of the word throughout the special isn’t something that I am at all comfortable with.
In terms of the relationship between his rhetoric and the queer community, it is truly not my place to make sweeping affirmative or negative judgements, as I am not queer and I am not personally harmed by his rhetoric. Most glaringly, I was bothered by the term “dy*ke” which is considered a slur historically used against queer and lesbian women. His final joke of the special, in which he purposely misgenders his late trans-friend Daphne Dorman, is justified by “she would have loved that joke.” Maybe she would have, it is tough to say. But it’s also important to point out that Dorman cannot and should be the representative of all trans-people and what they should or shouldn’t like in comedy. It’s possible that what would have been fine and funny to her, is entirely offensive to another trans-individual. Additionally, despite the joke being made at her expense, it does not happen in a vacuum, other trans-individuals and their identities are implicated in that joke. It is complicated.
Jokes at the expense of Jews that echo underlying anti-semetic rhetoric and conspiracy are found in his “Space Jews” joke, and overall there were plenty of moments that as a woman, I felt that his jokes maybe crossed a line for me.
However, Chappelle does make some interesting points (that is not to say that I defend them) about power positionality, intersectionality and he questions what acts/speech are deemed as “cancellable” by the masses. Though I feel he misses the nuance of intersectionality, as he continuously seems to pin the black community against the queer community.
I think in the case of Dave Chappelle, there is a lot of room for criticism, as there is with any artform. I feel that there is a lot of nuance to all issues, contexts that help us understand and grapple with discourses. Secondly, I don’t know that his format, any 1 hour special, has the ability to really properly address these nuances, nor does a tweet in reaction (that is not to say that I don’t think people should use Twitter or Social Media to discuss these issues--everyone is entitled to express their opinion). Longform content, essays, video essays, reviews, and the like are better equipped to handle nuance, but that does not assume that they always do.
I think one thing has certainly helped me get a better grasp on his rhetoric, was actually watching the special--though I could understand why people wouldn’t want to do so, in fear of supporting monetarily (or with their time or attention) rhetoric that is harmful. After watching the special, I had the context to then turn to the queer and trans voices that are speaking against his work and truly understand their arguments about how and why his rhetoric is harmful.
And is Dave really a victim of cancel culture in the first place? He paints himself to be, but his 2020 Grammy award for Sticks and Stones, consequent Netflix deals, and what seems to be even more social attention beg to differ.
After all of this, where do I stand? I am not really sure. I think Dave certainly says some harmful things. Some of these jokes, through a deeper analysis, much like the “bitch” joke I highlighted earlier, are less harmful than assumed. However, plenty of his offensive jokes don't hold up to deeper analysis--they are simply offensive. Personally, I didn’t find the special overly funny--that is subjective. My preferred comedy is more self deprecating and absurdist, but that is just personal preference.
Chappelle’s most recent special isn’t my personal taste, but in experiencing the special I felt I was able to understand the opposition to it, and form some opinions of my own against much of it. However, I maintain that individuals should have the freedom to determine what content they engage with and the freedom to publicly denounce what is harmful. In terms of wider social conversation, I think there have been some really interesting and profound discourses around The Closer, which makes me hopeful for our ability to navigate these complex topics. But I am far from approving of the special or dismissing it entirely.
What do we do with a figure like Chappelle? I don’t know how to answer on behalf of “we”...but on behalf of “me” I have some ideas. I recognize Chappelle’s legacy as a comic who used his power to highlight the black experience and the injustices which plague it. I also can appreciate some of his newer jokes and some of his observations on social issues. But all in all, after a lot of consideration, I think it perpetuates some really harmful rhetoric against transpeople, and on top of it, it was not funny to me. There is space for all of those things to be true. What do I do know? I continue listen to marginalized voices, I engage with media I both agree and disagree with, I reflect on what my relationship is to the content that I consume, and my ethics and values are.
There are some great thoughtful pieces analyzing the Closer that I highly recommend which look at the different nuances to his arguments and what real impact that they have (which I have attached below). But I have attached some quotations below that stood out to me--I recommend reading each article to avoid taking the quotation out of context.
“I’m writing this to acknowledge that Chappelle has always been narrowly focused on Black pain, and that when he speaks of the Black community, he is mostly talking about Black men. He is talking about the experience he knows best, his own.” --Nicole Lewis, Slate, https://slate.com/culture/2021/10/dave-chappelle-the-closer-netflix-controversy.html
“He doesn’t want to make people feel bad but doesn’t accept any grief for it when it happens. If you react poorly, you are proving him right that you can’t take a joke. This is, to a wide swath of types of guy, a brilliant trap. Your ability to stomach these specials hinged on whether or not these points struck you as unshakable tenets of comedy or outdated excuses masking a refusal to update a worldview. (Two things can be true.)” -Craig Jenkins, Vulture, https://www.vulture.com/article/dave-chappelle-the-closer-comedy-review.html
“Are Dave Chappelle’s jokes offensive, or are they funny? They’re both. Is he attacking a marginalized community, or a cabal of sadistic scolds? Both. People can be both. Chappelle is entirely right to indict would-be censors for their wild inconsistencies and their capricious attitude to offense. As a comedian, he is thrown against the bars of this illogical prison every day. Why are Caitlyn Jenner jokes more obvious grounds for cancellation than ones about white bitches getting tear-gassed? When is Dave Chappelle a Black comedian and when is he a rich comedian? Sometimes the ink blot won’t resolve into a neat outline. It remains, like life, a mess.” -Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/dave-chappelle-the-closer/620364/
“This isn’t equality. Chappelle, who’s spent his entire comedy career using humor to make sharp, trenchant commentary on racism and injustice, should know that. Trans people should never have to just live with or get over or get used to rhetoric that dehumanizes them. The man who speaks viscerally about the fear Black Americans experience daily should know that asking trans people to accept and embrace transphobic ideology isn’t tolerance. It certainly isn’t the love and good humor he wants to be credited with” -Aja Romano, Vox, https://www.vox.com/culture/22738500/dave-chappelle-the-closer-daphne-dorman-trans-controversy-comedy
Nikita, Although contrary to Sergio and Keelan, I am not familiar with Dave’s Chappelle comedy, I strongly agree with them that you always take the time to fully develop your arguments and consider most points of view. I loved how you analyzed the use of the word “Bitch” and “dy*ke” in Chappelle's comedy; I found the very specific and to-the-point examples that make your argument solid.
I loved how you acknowledged your position and distance of his work, and then you brought your idea about where you stand and what you do with a figure like Chappelle.
And the last thing: thank you for bringing some great thoughtful pieces analyzing the Closer.
Keep up the great work Nikit
Nikita, as always in depth with your analysis! Like Keelan, I don’t get offended by Dave’s Chappelle comedy, but I know that its offensive to others. To the point that I might think “Oh… he definitely crossed the line there.” But then again that’s me talking from my perspective and place in society. Chappelle clearly knows what he is doing and saying, he even said that he wanted to get cancelled, so he got it. But that didn’t stop him he is still relevant, and people still watch him and support him. As you mentioned too, that jokes are meant to be funny and can be studied and have a more deep meaning but when jokes are meant to offend…
Nikita, I want to start by complimenting you on always taking the time to fully develop your arguments and consider all points of view. I agree that Chapelle's comedy is offensive to most people at some time or another. Personally, I haven't heard anything from him that would make me never watch him again, but for others, I can see why they would. Your comment about his understanding of the nuances but poor delivery of them really stood out to me. I agree that you can tell Chapelle understands the nuances of the comedy he's presenting, however, he often falls short of being able to deliver the understanding of these nuances to the audience.