Dave Chapelle is an egomaniac whose legacy is ‘a bunch of opinions on trans s**t’, says gay comic
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Comedian and filmmaker Jerrod Carmichael has recently made headlines for his public criticism of fellow comic Dave Chappelle. The feud between the two comedians has been ongoing, with Carmichael specifically calling out Chappelle’s controversial opinions on the LGBTQ+ community.
Chappelle has faced backlash for his use of trans jokes in his Netflix specials, including comments made in his January 2024 show, “The Dreamer”, and his 2021 special, “The Closer”. In these specials, Chappelle made explicit jokes about trans women’s genitals and declared himself to be “team TERF”, sparking outrage from many in the LGBTQ+ community.
Speaking to Esquire, Carmichael addressed a comment Chappelle made about his 2022 stand-up special, “Rothaniel”. Chappelle referred to it as the bravest special for 1996, which Carmichael found ironic considering the struggles comedians face with pushing boundaries even back then.
Carmichael expressed concern about the prevalence of gay jokes in comedy, stating, “So much of comedy is just gay jokes. As long as people continue to laugh at it and mock it, and as long as it’s a punchline, it’s going to be scary for somebody. It’s scary for me.”
This isn’t the first time Carmichael has spoken out against Chappelle. He previously told The Hollywood Reporter that Chappelle’s legacy is “a bunch of opinions on trans s**t”, which he found to be “an odd hill to die on”. According to Carmichael, Chappelle took offense to his comments and demanded a public apology from him.
In a recent interview with Esquire, Carmichael clarified that he believes Chappelle’s jokes do not reveal anything personal about himself and that he sees Chappelle as smarter and deeper than his controversial comedy might suggest.
Aside from his public feud with Chappelle, Jerrod Carmichael is known for more than just his comedy. He had a sitcom titled “The Carmichael Show” on NBC from 2015 to 2017, which tackled important social issues such as transgender rights, the Black Lives Matter movement, and obesity. Carmichael has also appeared in various films, including “Neighbours”, “The Disaster Artist”, and “Transformers: The Last Knight”.
Carmichael has also ventured into the music industry, working with artists like Tyler the Creator and Jay-Z on various projects. He directed the music video for “Moonlight”, which reimagined an episode of the sitcom “Friends” with an all-Black cast.
In a surprising revelation, Carmichael shared during an episode of “The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” that he had a crush on his friend and rapper Tyler the Creator. Despite the feelings not being mutual, Carmichael and Tyler discussed their friendship candidly on the show, with Tyler expressing that Carmichael is like family to him.
Additionally, Carmichael has a close friendship with pop singer Taylor Swift, as evidenced by their attendance at a Kansas City Chiefs game together. Carmichael jokingly referred to Swift as his best friend during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”.
For those interested in watching Jerrod Carmichael’s stand-up special “Rothaniel”, it is available to stream on HBO Max and can be purchased on Apple TV. The documentary series “The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” is also available to watch on HBO Max.
In conclusion, the public feud between Jerrod Carmichael and Dave Chappelle sheds light on the complexities of comedy and the responsibility that comedians have when addressing sensitive topics. While both comedians have their own unique styles and perspectives, it is clear that their differences have sparked important conversations within the entertainment industry.
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