Dave Chappelle called a 'bigot' by student during visit to his high school: 'Your comedy kills'
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Zac Ntim
Nov 26, 2021, 18:13 IST
Dave Chappelle in "The Closer."Netflix
Dave Chappelle was criticized by students at his alma mater over his comedy special "The Closer."
One student called the comedian a "bigot" while another told him his "comedy kills."
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Dave Chappelle made a surprise visit to his former high school, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C., on Tuesday, during which he was criticized by current students and called a "bigot," according to a report in Politico.
However, Politico reported that Chappelle's surprise visit to the school was attended by up to 580 students, some of whom took to the microphone during a Q&A session to criticize the comedian.
The report states that one student called Chappelle a "bigot" before adding: "I'm 16 and I think you're childish, you handled it like a child."
In response, according to students who were present and spoke to Politico, Chappelle said: "My friend, with all due respect, I don't believe you could make one of the decisions I have to make on a given day."
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Politico confirmed that these comments were made with Chappelle's spokesperson Carla Sims. Insider has contacted representatives for Chappelle for further comment.
The report later states that a student in the audience shouted "your comedy kills" at Chappelle, to which he responded: "N-----s are killed every day."
A parent of a child who attends the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, but withheld their identity, spoke to Politico about the event.
"As a parent, I have to say I have a real problem," they told the publication. "He was being dead serious and using the N-word on the record. What kind of judgment is the school showing to allow that?"
Carla Sims, Chappelle's spokesperson, provided Politico with a statement in response: "They are complaining that he talked and said the N-word. If anything, Dave is putting the school on the map."
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Dave Chappelle has been a prominent supporter of Duke Ellington School of the Arts over the years, donating a total of $100,000 and giving the school one of his Emmy awards, according to Deadline. Chappelle also held a masterclass for students in 2017 featuring fellow actors Bradley Cooper and Chris Tucker.
The outcry over "The Closer" — the sixth stand-up special Chappelle has debuted on Netflix — has been widespread. In the special, Chappelle voiced support for the "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling, who has been criticized for anti-trans comments. During a monologue, Chappelle also said that "gender is a fact" and "every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth."
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