Dave Chappelle has received a standing ovation at a star-studded show at the Hollywood Bowl after being called out for transphobic jokes in his latest Netflix special The Closer.
“If this is what being canceled is like, I love it,” the controversial comedian told the crowd, which included Brad Pitt, Tiffany Haddish, Chuck Lorre and more.
“Fuck Twitter. Fuck NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid ass networks. I’m not talking to them. I’m talking to you. This is real life,” he bluntly added later on.
Chappelle’s sold-out show ‘promoted messages of kindness and love’ with special guest Stevie Wonder offering some sage words on cancel culture, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“What we need to cancel is hate. What we need to cancel is fear because we have to have love, and we should never cancel that,” he said.
“I want us to cancel the idea of feeling that we don’t want anyone to laugh because if we don’t laugh, we cry. And I don’t believe that was God’s intention — ever.”
The event was a screening of his Untitled: Dave Chappelle Documentary, a 118-minute inside look at last year’s ‘Summer Camp’ series, where Chappelle played host to a raft of his celebrity friends during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The film, produced by Chappelle, was produced and directed by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar (American Factory).
Chappelle shared the Hollywood Bowl stage with ‘surprise’ guests Wonder, Snoop Dogg, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nas and Lizzo, amongst others.
For his part in the positivity, Chappelle doubled-down on themes explored in the documentary.
“Do something nice for someone who looks nothing like you,” he told the audience.
“We have to trust one another.”
He didn’t directly address any of the backlash he’s received.
Chappelle will be premiering the documentary in London next Sunday, 17th October.
