Dave Chappelle surprised fans Friday night with a new Netflix stand-up special, Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…, filmed in Washington, DC, and released without notice after that Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight.
Taking the stage in a camo jacket emblazoned with Colin Kaepernick’s name and number, Chappelle told the crowd, “We have a lot to talk about,” explaining that he returned home after Trump deployed the National Guard to the city.
“They’re trying to take the chocolate out of Chocolate City… I’ve got to go home while it’s still a city I remember,” he said.
Chappelle also addressed the backlash over his performance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, saying, “I’ve gotten a lot of grief,” before singling out Bill Maher: “I’ve never said that publicly, but screw that guy. I’m so sick of his smug little cheesy comment.”
“I don’t feel guilty at all,” Chappelle said, adding that critics accused him of betraying his principles. He reiterated, “it’s easier for me to speak in Saudi Arabia than it is in America,” and joked, “transgender jokes went down very well in Saudi Arabia.”
The comedian later discussed reports surrounding Charlie Kirk, saying, “if you’re talking for a living and seeing Charlie Kirk get murdered like that, I’ll be honest, I was shocked,” adding, “I was at home like, ‘Oh no! I’m dead as a fried chicken’.”
Chappelle also reflected on Sean Combs’ sentencing, noting, “He saved my life,” and said of Cassie, “God bless her… what she went through was horrible.”
He concluded by telling the audience, “we are a community and we will stay sane together.”
