A rep for Dave Chappelle is quoted in a new report as arguing that the comedian “didn’t kill affordable housing” after recent reports focused on his involvement with an Ohio town’s decision to not move forward with a housing-related proposal.
In a statement to TMZ, the rep suggested that Chappelle wasn’t aligned with the finer points of the larger proposed Yellow Springs plan.
“Dave Chappelle didn’t kill affordable housing. Concerned residents and a responding Village Council ‘killed’ a half-baked plan which never actually offered affordable housing,” a Chappelle rep told the publication on Thursday.
Further arguing that Chappelle is “not opposed” to affordable housing options, the rep—identified in multiple reports as Carla Sims—criticized the proposal in question as being a “sprawl-style development deal” of which Chappelle was not a fan.
As previously reported, Chappelle was among those who attended a recent Yellow Springs Village Council meeting during which the comedian referred to council members as “clowns” and vowed to pull millions in investments from the town.
“You look like clowns,” Chappelle said, as seen in the clip below. “I am not bluffing. I will it take it all off the table.”
Per a report from NBC News this week, Yellow Springs ultimately did not approve what’s billed as a zoning ordinance that included mention of “dozens of affordable housing units.” Due to this outcome, as outlined in greater detail here via a regional Dayton Daily News report, a new development “can move forward,” albeit without the touted affordable housing aspect.
This week’s vote was on a proposal that reportedly would have seen the development in question broken down as follows: 64 one-family homes, 52 duplex-style residences, and 24 townhouses. Meanwhile, a reported 1.75 acres would have been “donated” for affordable housing.
Chappelle’s latest controversy follows last year’s multi-part pushback over comments that were widely criticized as being transphobic, including—as seen in one of the comedian’s Netflix stand-up specials—speaking out in defense of author J.K. Rowling while declaring himself “team TERF.”
