🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Dave Chappelle was met with animosity during a visit to his former high school following the controversy surrounding his Netflix special.
The renowned comedian has been embroiled in a row with the transgender community for remarks in his stand-up special, The Closer, and the situation was ever-present at a recent show he performed for his alma mater.
On Tuesday, Chappelle visited the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. for a performance in front of an almost 600-strong crowd. The 48-year-old graduated from the school in 1991.
According to a detailed report from the event from Politico Playbook, many people in the audience confronted Chappelle about his jokes about trans people and the backlash that has ensued.
"I'm 16 and I think you're childish, you handled it like a child," one student reportedly said, they also called Chappelle a "bigot."
The comedian reportedly replied, according to students who were in attendance: "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."
In The Closer, Chappelle made comments about transgender people which have been labeled as "transphobic" such as remarking that "gender is a fact."
The special even prompted a walkout from Netflix employees and put the spotlight on co-CEO Ted Sarandos, whose response to the backlash has also been heavily criticized.
Chappelle also said to a student on Tuesday: "I'm better than every instrumentalist, artist, no matter what art you do in this school, right now, I'm better than all of you. I'm sure that will change. I'm sure you'll be household names soon."
Another student told him that his comedy "kills" to which Chappelle replied: "[Racial slur] are killed every day," before saying: "The media's not here, right?"
Meanwhile, a parent also complained about the comedian's use of a racial slur at the event.
"As a parent, I have to say I have a real problem. ... He was being dead serious and using the N-word on the record. What kind of judgment is the school showing to allow that?," they said.
All comments have been confirmed by Chappelle's spokesperson, Carla Sims.
Following the event, Sims told Politico: "They are complaining that he talked and said the n-word. If anything, Dave is putting the school on the map."
Sims added: "He said these kids deserve an F for forgiveness," and added, "give them some space to grow. They are going to say things that are immature."
She also said that Chappelle did not expect students to want him to apologize during his visit.
