Today's daily reminder that people suck: According to reports coming out of Connecticut, Dave Chappelle walked off stage during his 'comeback' performance at the Oddball Comedy Festival in Hartford last night after the audience heckled and booed him loudly. THIS is why we can't have nice things.
He was only a few minutes into his set when he grew infuriated with the noise, according to The Huffington Post, and the arena was apparently so loud that it prompted the festival's official Twitter account to chime in with what one would think is a simple request:
Hey Hartford! Pipe down and let Dave Chappelle do his thing!
— Oddball Fest (@OddballFest) August 30, 2013
Other tweets from those who attended the performance varied:
Dave Chappelle announces 'I'm back', does 10 brilliant minutes & is driven off the stage by the worst crowd i've ever seen #connecticut
— Ivan Brandon (@IvanBrandon) August 30, 2013
Chapelle tried to work through the yelling, and he told people he wasnt telling any jokes until they quieted down. And they didnt.
— Mike Wellman (@mikewellman88) August 30, 2013
At one point Chapelle told the crowd “If someone sitting next you is yelling, punch them in the kidney”
— Mike Wellman (@mikewellman88) August 30, 2013
So many white Frat boys in Hartford tonight are upset Dave Chappelle didn't appreciate them screaming Rick James during his routine.
— Chris Vinyard (@cvinyard) August 30, 2013
dave chappelle just walked on stage, told 2 jokes, sat down and lectured us, then says "i have 3 minutes left then I'm going to the bank"
— _ (@LuchnessMonster) August 30, 2013
A report in Chortle tells a bit more of the story—according to the site, Chappelle began his set, but quickly grew tired of being heckled by loud and rowdy audience members in front:
About ten minutes into his set, he complained that people were making too much noise, and abandoned his prepared routine. He pulled up a stool and started smoking and making idle chat until he had completed the 25 minutes he was contractually obliged to be on stage.
‘You are booing yourself,’ he said over the wall of noise. ‘Go home and look in the mirror and say “boo” at yourself. At the moment, that’s how I feel about you.’
He added: ‘Ah, fuck you, I’m the one that has to get the review in the paper tomorrow. I’m going to have to read about this shit for months.’
They report that he then received a book from a woman in the audience, so he spent the rest of his time reading the cover notes before leaving, which is pretty much supported by this video from the show:
There's been no comment from Chappelle or anyone officially involved with the festival about the incident.
[via Huffington Post]