Regrettably, we must announce that comedian Dave Chappelle, known for his controversial views on transgender issues, is once again in the spotlight alongside Netflix. The streamer dropped a 25-second teaser for the comedian’s forthcoming special, which will be released on December 31.
The teaser consists mainly of close-up shots of a neon sign shaped like Chappelle’s signature logo. In the background, Chappelle can be heard saying “thank you” and “let’s go, let’s go” over the sounds of a cheering audience.
Following this, there is (rather menacing) white text on a black background that reads: “DAVE IS BACK.” In the closing moments, we hear Morgan Freeman’s chuckle, followed by him saying, “He’s back, folks.”
The upcoming movie will mark Chappelle’s seventh Netflix standup special, and he is expected to earn millions of dollars. In 2021, Bloomberg reported that Netflix spent $24.1 million on “The Closer,” where Chappelle identified as “team TERF” and extensively mocked trans people.
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Additionally, the streamer paid $23.6 million for the comedian’s 2019 special “Sticks & Stones,” which faced criticism for its anti-trans jokes.
When “The Closer” was released, some trans-Netflix employees tried to express their concerns about the platforming of transphobic rhetoric. However, they encountered a dismissive staff memo from Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos.
Three Netflix employees, one of whom was trans and had recently written a viral thread on X criticizing the special, were suspended the week after its release.
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Netflix stated that the suspension was due to their attempt to attend a “director-level meeting” without an invitation.
Following this, the streamer terminated B. Pagels-Minor, a Black trans employee who organized a Netflix walkout while pregnant. The company asserted that the decision to fire Pagels-Minor was unrelated to their organizing efforts.
Further stating that Pagels-Minor had leaked internal data on the Chappelle special. Netflix also (conveniently) dropped the lineup for its annual Netflix is a Joke festival on Wednesday.
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Alongside longtime comedy magnates like Wanda Sykes and Jerry Seinfeld. The lineup also features some of the biggest names in contemporary queer comedy, including Joel Kim Booster, Mae Martin, and Hannah Gadsby.
More headliners are yet to be announced. Chappelle isn’t present on the lineup but was a headliner for the inaugural festival in 2022.
For those seeking anti-LGBTQ+ comedy, this year’s lineup includes comedians like Shane Gillis and Kevin Hart, who have faced criticism for past homophobic remarks.
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