Dave Chappelle Addresses DaBaby’s Homophobic Comments in New Netflix Special

In 'The Closer,' Chappelle's latest special for the streaming platform, the comedian shares his thoughts on DaBaby's homophobic remarks and ensuing criticism.

dc
Getty

Image via Getty/Paul Morigi

dc

Dave Chappelle addresses DaBaby’s homophobic comments, as well as the industry-wide response to the Blame It on Baby artist’s harmful remarks, in his new Netflix special.

Early into The Closer, a portion of which is about to be spoiled in this article if you haven’t already watched it, Chappelle said he entered the taping with “an objective” related to his series of specials for the streaming platform.

“I came here tonight because this body of work that I’ve done on Netflix, I’m going to complete,” he said. “All the questions you might have had about all these jokes I’ve said in the last few years, I hope to answer tonight. And I’d like to start by addressing the [LGBTQ] community directly. I want every member of that community to know that I come here tonight in peace and I hope to negotiate the release of DaBaby.”

From there, 48-year-old Chappelle acknowledged that DaBaby, 29, made “a very egregious mistake” with his Rolling Loud comments before bringing up a fatal 2018 Walmart shooting alleged to have involved the artist.

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

“Now, you know I go hard in the paint, but even I saw that shit and was like, ‘Goddamn, DaBaby,’” Chappelle said. “He pushed the button, didn’t he? He pushed the button, punched the [LGBTQ] community right in the AIDS. Can’t do that, can’t do that. But I do believe—and I’ll make this point later—that the kid made a very egregious mistake. I will acknowledge that. But, you know, a lot of the [LGBTQ] community doesn’t know DaBaby’s history. He’s a wild guy.”

Chappelle then compared the shooting to DaBaby’s homophobic rhetoric, asking the audience if they knew where he was going with this comparison.

“In our country, you can shoot and kill a n***a but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings,” Dave said.

The Chappelle’s Show mastermind then proposed a question to the audience for the special’s taping, which he himself answered.

“This is a real question, and I’m not joking around, is it possible that a gay person can be racist?” he said. “Of course it’s possible. Look at Mike Pence.”

See a clip of the DaBaby-focused portion of the special below via TMZ.

In an August-shared open letter to DaBaby, who later met with Black leaders from various HIV-focused organizations, GLAAD pointed fans to the facts. 

“We heard your inaccurate and harmful comments at Rolling Loud and have read your Instagram apology,” the open letter signed by numerous organization leaders said. “However, at a time when HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans and queer and transgender people of color, a dialogue is critical. We must address the miseducation about HIV, expressed in your comments, and the impact it has on various communities.”

Revisit the facts here.

Latest in Pop Culture