Netflix Sparks Backlash Announcing New Dave Chappelle Specials

Netflix's announcement that Dave Chapelle will be hosting and producing a series of one-off specials has been met with backlash.

Yesterday, February 18, the streaming platform announced that the four specials, titled Chappelle's Home Team, would be heading to screens soon. They will reportedly focus on veteran comedians.

People weren't happy with the news, which comes following outrage surrounding some of Chappelle's recent jokes, which many have called transphobic.

Dave Chapelle (Alamy)

During his special entitled The Closer, Chapelle weighed in on the controversy surrounding JK Rowling and her comments about the transgender community, as per the Independent.

The comedian said, 'They cancelled JK Rowling. My god,' before adding, 'Effectually she said gender was a fact, the trans community got mad as s*it, they started calling her a Terf… I’m Team Terf. I agree. I agree, man. Gender is a fact.'

His comments were met with backlash online, with actor Taylor Ashbrook saying, 'As a trans woman, I have usually defended Dave Chappelle’s specials because I think they’re hilarious and his jokes about trans women never felt intentionally malicious.

'The Closer changed my mind on that. That special felt so lazy and disingenuous and I’m really disappointed.'

In light of Chapelle's comments and the controversy surrounding them, many are upset that Netflix would continue to give the comedian more specials.

Dave Chapelle (Alamy)

One user wrote, 'It weirds me out how companies like Netflix and Spotify actively INVEST in these ‘controversial’ personalities. Everything’s all good as long as everyone keeps punching down, I guess.'

Another said, 'My issue isn’t really with Dave Chapelle anymore. He’s gonna do what’s he gonna do and use transphobia for attention. But seriously, screw you Netflix for choosing to double down on platforming him and say “f*ck you” to criticism from trans people.'

While Chapelle hasn't yet commented on the controversy surround his new slate of specials, he did address backlash following the release of The Closer.

In a video obtained by TMZ, when asked about his controversial comments, Chapelle said, 'Any of you who have ever watched me know that I have never had a problem with transgender people. If you listen to what I’m saying, clearly, my problem has always been with white people.'

Chapelle's Home Team is set to air on 28 February, featuring a series of comedians who have been working for over the past three decades.

Executive producers of the series include Chapelle, Earthquake, Rikki Hughes, Jermaine Smith and Stan Lathan, as per Variety.

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