With Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer” special out on Netflix recently, there are several discussions going on about comedy, punching down on the marginalized trans community, and whether or not the special is truly offensive and should be taken down. I’ve got a few thoughts!

Comedy Philosophy

Chappelle’s “The Closer” is worthy of analysis, but before we even bother looking at that special, I think we need to ask ourselves a philosophical question:

What is okay to make fun of, and what’s not?

I believe that we should be able to make fun of damn near everything. It has to be in the right context, it has to be in the right setting and situation, but I believe everything should be on the table. We seem to be moving away from this concept, I feel I’m in the minority of people who think this way. Perhaps it’s just a minority of people who will speak up about the concept?

That said, I believe we need to make strong differentiations between a comedian doing stand up comedy and some jagoff on the street treating women poorly and then saying “I was just kidding, it was just locker room talk, I respect women!” Stand up comedy shouldn’t be a bulletproof shield, but art should be recognized as art and not someone’s literal feelings, unless otherwise stated. 

If you disagree that we shouldn’t be able to make fun of everything and want to be selective with our humor, I understand and sympathize with that opinion. No hard feelings, no judgement. But, if you feel that way, there’s no point in reading the rest of this blog, because the rest of it is on the assumption that we can make fun of damn near everything, and from here it’s about looking at the specifics.

Controversy & Cancellation

The first thing that I think is most important to state is that this is primarily a fabricated controversy. That isn’t to say that people’s feelings are irrelevant, as there are absolutely people who are offended, feel sincerely attacked or betrayed, and request the special to be taken down from Netflix. However, I think the proportion of people who are even aware of the special is low, and then those who are calling for it to be removed are even smaller. A community’s feelings matter just as much as anyone else, even if they’re few in number, but my criticism is more towards the media and social media for intentionally drumming up disproportionate coverage of the story as if there’s nationwide walk outs or something to that effect. In reality, it’s a few weeks after the special is out and it’s almost completely forgotten, we’re already on to the next 48 hour news cycle.

Dave himself is guilty of this because he has talked frequently (inside and outside of the special) about Kevin Hart, JK Rowling, or himself being cancelled. That is all completely ridiculous, because Kevin Hart’s career is just fine, JK Rowling has new movies coming out in 2022, and Dave’s just as rich and famous as always. His special literally is not cancelled from Netflix and has stayed available. Some celebrities are guilty of claiming “cancel culture” even when it’s not really harming them, and I think Dave is guilty of that, here. I can sympathize with the fear and anxiety around being called a bigot and receiving heavy criticism, but Dave is not cancelled. Criticism is not cancellation. No individual comedian’s career has been cancelled for jokes they told on stage.  

Selective Outrage

One thing that I find both fascinating and frustrating is the selective outrage around Dave’s comedy and comedy in general. People have focused on the trans and LGBTQ jokes as offensive, but haven’t commented on the rest of his targets. For example, these are just a few things that Chappelle has joked about in his recent specials Sticks and Stones and The Closer: 

Pedophilia jokes, Anti-#metoo jokes, active shooter jokes, cheating on his wife, hating his children, old people’s value, young people being useless, Asians, Hispanics, white people, poor people, racism towards black people, assault, Michael Jackson and R. Kelly jokes, and much more. 

I can understand and sympathize with someone who is uncomfortable with making fun of LGBTQ community, that’s fine! But, if that’s not okay to do, in what world would making pro-pedophile jokes or pro-active shooter jokes be okay? Why isn’t Dave ostracized from society or “cancelled” for making pro-Michael Jackson-assaulting-children jokes? That must be far more offensive and harmful to society than any other jokes he could make, right?

The Victim Olympics / Intersectionality / Power of Authority

Another concept beyond simple jokes that I think is worth evaluating is the concept of the Victim Olympics, aka intersectionality. What I mean by that is, who is marginalized by society more? A straight black man or a white woman? A straight black man or a gay Asian man? A wealthy black woman or a poor white woman? How does something like Dave’s massive wealth factor into his privilege and experiences?

I don’t know that there is a flawless, defined answer, but what I do know is that the online vocal community has reached the point where we will criticize one another at the drop of a hat if we view that person’s identity not as having gone through as much as who they’re being compared against. 

For example, last year, in addition to thousands of peaceful protests, parts of the country burned in protest of George Floyd’s (and hundreds of others before him) murder in cold blood, by a police officer. This was the country reaching a boiling point of how black people (disproportionately black men) are treated by police. But are they treated worse than the LGBTQ community by the general public? Who is a larger victim? Does anyone know the answers to these questions and have a tier list to follow? 

What’s also fascinating to me is that there has been a history of homophobia in the black community, and I feel some some people have presumed that Dave would therefore be bigoted. But, wouldn’t it be racist and bigoted to presume that a black man is against the LGBTQ community since he’s black? Isn’t that in itself buying into negative stereotypes about black men? Or, would it be more insulting to the LGBTQ community to pretend as if that homophobia within the black community didn’t/doesn’t exist, since it certainly, historically has existed? This stuff is complex.

When Dave has commented on and made fun of white people throughout his career, he has been applauded and received GOAT accolades, fame and wealth. (Justifiably for his genius, I’d argue.) He himself is a black man and has been criticizing white people and the systemic racism within our country, so it has been more acceptable and he’s faced little to no harm from it. However, as a cis gendered man, speaking about a subject that he is not a part of (the LGBTQ community) he is no longer speaking from a place of “authority” from the in-group, but from an outsider. It’s similar to me why a Jewish person can make fun of Jewsish people without being anti-Semitic, a woman could playfully call her best friend a slut without it being sexist, a gay guy can make fun of a lesbian without being homophobic, etc. But, Dave is none of these things, so is it okay for him to speak and joke about them? His critics would say no, his supporters, including me, would say yes.

Dave has argued (and told jokes to the effect) that black people have been historically treated far worse than any other marginalized group, so his “authority” on marginalization would be stronger and deeper than any other group. He makes this point sharply with a quote from The Closer “Why is it easier for Caitlyn Jenner to change her gender then it was for Cassius Clay to change his name?”

If one agrees, does that mean it’s okay to make fun of the LGBTQ community? If one disagrees, could that possibly be seen as not being woke and sympathetic enough to people of color’s history in America? 

A quote I appreciate is “No one individual group of people has a monopoly on human suffering.” Dave operates from this standpoint, so when he makes fun of other marginalized groups, he would view it not as “punching down” since he views himself and black people as a part of the larger in-group of marginalized people, though he’s not a part of the LGBTQ community. I understand if people don’t agree with that sentiment, but that is my interpretation of his words, which is much different than hatred, bigotry, or phobia. Insensitivity and perhaps not a great ally? Sure. But bigotry and hatred? That seems like quite a leap, especially if you agree with the notion of being able to joke about everything. 

Living Rent Free In His Mind / Not Funny

One of the criticisms I’ve seen of The Closer is that Dave is allowing his critics to live “rent free in his mind” and is consumed by defending his trans feelings to make an entire special about this issue. The other criticism is that he’s doing more “clapter” (blend of clapping and laughter) where he’s storytelling with moral applause to follow, instead of actually telling jokes. The end result is that it’s just not as funny as his previous stuff. I think that both of these criticisms are accurate. I enjoyed the special, but it definitely is a bit too preachy and defensive, lacking in a bit of hard hitting humor. 

Having Your Cake and Eating It, Too / In Conclusion

I think one of the biggest challenges that Dave and other comedians have is the distinction and separation between when they’re sincerely joking compared to when they’re conveying an honest feeling. Storytellers, comedians, musicians, actors (any form of artists, really) will use their art to convey feelings, or use real life as an inspiration. Often, they’ll discuss how the art is rooted in reality, but it shouldn’t be taken literally. The intentions are good, but the final punchline  may not be sensitive. Dave is no exception to this rule.

Where this is “having your cake and eating it, too” is that comedians like Dave will want certain aspects of the show to be obviously non-literal, but other aspects of the show to be a literal representation of how they feel. When Dave says (paraphrasing) “I was hugging this trans person, but then I backed away because I’m transphobic!” it’s quite clear that he’s mocking the notion that he’s actually transphobic and that he had no problem hugging a trans person. However, when he says “I’m Team TERF” I cannot determine if he’s legitimately a TERF, if he even knows what that fully means, or if he’s just being sarcastic and joking. It is too convenient to say “I was just telling jokes” for the “bad” stuff, and then take credit for the obviously “good” jokes. If one wants to criticize him for being “team TERF” and taking that literally instead of exaggerating, that’s fair. Dave left himself open to that specific criticism, even if his intentions are good.

So, on one hand, I think a large grain of salt should be taken with anything a comedian says on stage, but on the other hand, I completely understand if any group of people determines select parts of a stand up act aren’t jokes, but a representation of how the person feels. This is the risk vs reward that all comedians have had and will continue to have. This concept has always existed, but I think our changing social landscape over the past 10 years has made it even muddier waters to swim through. I think that returning to “We should be able to make fun of everyone and everything” is the right philosophy, and then judge, criticize or love a comedian based on their words and actions outside of their art – or, at worst, in addition to it.