A grumpy Dave Chappelle listed demands for meeting with trans Netflix employees, and in the process, he took a low blow at Hannah Gadsby. That’s essentially what happened when Chappelle posted a Instagram clip of a live set, during which he complained about being cancelled by everyone but Ted Sarandos at Netflix for a string of homophobic “jokes” in his The Closer. During that stand-up special, he declared that he is “Team TERF” and in agreement with author J.K. Rowling’s TERF-aligned remarks. He’s also proclaimed, “gender is a fact,” and let’s just say that the backlash (including a Netflix employee walkout) continues.
Part of that pushback included the Emmy-winning Hannah Gadsby (of Netflix’s Emmy-winning Nanette special) calling out Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos for an “amoral algorithm.” She expressed disappointment in Netflix handing Chappelle “20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view,” and Gadsby declared that Sarandos’ namecheck of her meant, “Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me.” Well, Dave wasn’t thrilled with Hannah standing up for herself. He pushed back while announcing that one of his conditions for meeting with Netflix employees would be to “admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”
Yeah, that wasn’t a necessary remark, but Dave just couldn’t (or rather, wouldn’t) restrain himself. Social media, by and large, rose to Gadsby’s defense.
Hate how Dave Chappelle is going after Hannah Gadsby because not only is she VERY funny, she’s autistic and she’s a great role model for autistics like myself #ActuallyAutistic
— Kayla Rodriguez (@theKwomanrules) October 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/gayshipruinedme/status/1452781335551041536
Well since Dave Chappelle and Hannah Gadsby are trending on my page… https://t.co/gFxUtW0md5
— Robin Tran 🏳️⚧️ (@robintran04) October 25, 2021
does dave chappelle not get that he is hannah gadsby for guys
— amelia elizalde (@ameliaelizalde) October 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/meyrude/status/1452744171836493824
Hannah Gadsby is HILARIOUS and smart as hell. She is also a lesbian and neurodivergent so I see Dave Chappelle is still punching down on people I love. What a waste of his talents. pic.twitter.com/5TAQvR83aX
— 🍂Just a dork trying to be the good (@ShaNaNaWednesdy) October 26, 2021
The fact that Dave Chappelle has to go after Hannah Gadsby in his response to Trans people complaining about what a POS human being he is just confirms what a POS human being he is.
— 🇵🇸 🅲🅷🆄🅲🅺🇾🇪 (@benigma2017) October 25, 2021
Tell ya what, I reckon Dave Chappelle demanding trans employees ‘acknowledge’ Hannah Gadsby isn’t funny is a mighty fine way to get Hannah Gadsby some new fans.
— MJ O'Neill – Retired (@mjoneillnoise) October 25, 2021
I wonder if Dave Chappelle has an ax to grind against Hannah Gadsby because she has been getting press about being comedy’s cutting edge, something he used to get a while ago.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) October 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/Dirtynun3/status/1452789914450411524
Meanwhile, Dave also changed his tune, apparently. Previously, he declared (of being “cancelled”) that “I love it.” His defensiveness and issuing of demands toward Netflix employees (who aren’t biting yet) sure feels like a shift.