Dave Chappelle Doesn’t Address Anti-Trans Jokes, Mocks Kanye’s Antisemitic Remarks in Lengthy ‘SNL’ Monologue - Variety

Taking main signifier astatine NBC’s Studio 8H connected Saturday night, comedian Dave Chappelle utilized his monologue arsenic big of this week’s “Saturday Night Live” to talk connected existent events, but declined to sermon thing related to caller anti-trans jokes helium told which drew controversy.

Chappelle generated choler past twelvemonth aft the October merchandise of “The Closer,” which included harmful remarks from the 49-year-old comedian astir the transgender assemblage and prompted contiguous absorption from Netflix staffers. This included a staged walkout from transgender Netflix employees and allies aft the streamer’s main contented serviceman Ted Sarandos defended Chappelle’s harmful jokes arsenic creator expression, supporting his “creative freedom.”

Instead, Chappelle spent the archetypal agelong of his monologue commenting connected rapper Kanye West’s caller antisemitic remarks, opening by saying, “I wanted to work a connection I prepared: I renounce antisemitism successful each its forms and basal with my friends successful the Jewish community. And that, Kanye, is however you bargain yourself immoderate time.” He past proceeded to mock Kanye’s antisemitism messages, arsenic good arsenic Kyrie Irving’s caller antisemitic tweet scandal and apology.

Chappelle besides made a fewer jokes that made the assemblage gasp, including, “I’ve been to Hollywood and this is what I saw: It’s a batch of Jews, it’s a lot. But that doesn’t mean anything. There’s a batch of Black radical successful Ferguson, Missouri, but that doesn’t mean we tally the place.”

West and Chappelle person crossed originative paths before, much peculiarly during the aboriginal aughts of West’s rap career, successful which the instrumentalist appeared connected the Comedy Central bid “Chappelle’s Show” arsenic a philharmonic guest. West besides performed during an lawsuit that Chappelle threw successful New York successful 2004, which was turned into the documentary movie “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.”

This was Chappelle’s 3rd hosting stint connected “Saturday Night Live,” and each 3 gigs came the aforesaid week arsenic a contentious nationalist election. It appears arsenic if bid creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels has etched the standup arsenic “SNL’s” contiguous post-election big for large moments successful the country’s governmental history. Following Donald Trump’s triumph successful the 2016 statesmanlike election, Chappelle hosted the amusement for the archetypal time, with the standup’s monologue underscoring his interest astir the country’s aboriginal but besides imploring audiences to springiness Trump’s presidency a chance. Four years later, during the show’s COVID-impacted season, Chappelle hosted for the 2nd clip pursuing a statesmanlike predetermination that saw existent President Joe Biden unseat Trump from the presidency.

In presumption of this year’s election, helium mocked Herschel Walker and the alleged “End of the Trump Era.”

Later successful the episode, determination was a barbershop-themed sketch that besides discussed existent events, including much connected West, Walker, the election, and popular civilization obsessions similar “Yellowstone” and Netflix’s “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”