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I grew up laughing at Sid Caesar, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Danny Thomas, Alan King, and Myron Cohen. These guys didn't have to depend on toilet humor or profanity, they were just plain funny. As the expression goes, they "worked clean." And those were the days before political and cultural ideology crept into every aspect of our lives, including comedy, as it now certainly does.
No, I don't care for Chappelle's style at all, but I must say I was happy to read that Chappelle stood his ground against the woke mob and now it appears he has won a victory after his former high school announced it would rename its theater after him despite the negative publicity and backlash. Washington D.C.'s Duke Ellington School of the Arts announced that it is going through with naming one of its theaters after Chappelle, one of its most famous former students.
The whole thing started after woke students and transgender activists began attacking Chappelle's Netflix special, "The Closer" claiming his jokes were "transphobic" and hurtful and demanded that the school not name the theater after Chappelle. The school acted reflexively to the woke mob, as most businesses and institutions will do, and announced that it was postponing its naming ceremony.
But Chappelle didn't cave, and it appeared that a large majority of students were on Dave Chappelle's side. After the school's announcement the comedian said he would help sponsor a contest to help the school decide if it would go through with the naming. In a Nov. 13th statement the school said, "We recognize that not everyone will accept or welcome a particular artist's point of view, product, or craft, but reject the notion that a Ôcancel culture' is a healthy or constructive means to teach our students how society should balance creative freedom with protecting the right and dignity of all of its members."
This week, according to the Hollywood Review, the school said that the contest was unnecessary. "While we appreciate Dave's impromptu and spirited fundraising initiative, we stand behind our decision to honor the wishes of our co-founder, the late Peggy Cooper Cafritz, to name the theatre after Chappelle. Chappelle cares deeply about Ellington and its students and regards them as family."
Then the school criticized the media for pushing fake news on the whole incident. "While there has been extensive media coverage about the theatre naming and Chappelle's most recent visit to the school, the source stories that have gone viral have been inaccurate, devoid of context, and neglected to include the nuances of art," the school said. So good for the school for having the chutzpah to stand up against not only the wokesters but the media.
I admire Chappelle for refusing to give in to the woke mobs. After the trans activists demanded that Netflix cancel him from the streaming service, ChappelleÊfaced them down and said that he'd be happy to meet with them to discuss the issues, but only on his terms. Crickets.
Then heÊtoldÊthe media that he won't speak to them until they "admit" that the trans activist comedian who attacked him just "isn't funny." Now that was a good one! Last week, Chappelle said that he absolutely will not apologize to the woke students who have called him a "bigot" and accused him of helping haters "kill" trans people.
It's about time that someone, particularly of the stature of a Dave Chappelle, stood up to the mob bullies. It's like my father always said, bullies are cowards, just stand up to them and they will back down every time.
I wish more celebrities had the courage to do the same as Chappelle. And why aren't more comedians speaking out in support of Chappelle and what he has done? Where is Jerry Steinfeld, for instance? He certainly should have spoken out against this kind of censorship a long time ago.
All it takes is a little guts. But when it comes to celebrities, maybe that's asking for too much.
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