Dave Chappelle and the Politics of Cancel Culture | Complex News

It’s almost impossible for a day to pass without hearing that someone or something has been "cancelled." In a much more politically correct society, things that were admissible years ago have consequences today and many are calling for accountability for all issues. Just recently, we’ve seen Dave Chappelle's latest special create a Netflix controversy while Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was forced to resign over wildly flagrant emails from a decade ago. Complex News anchor Claire Ateku talks to New Yorkers about “cancel culture” and to find out if it’s possible to make a comeback from being cancelled.
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[@Complexnews]

Has cancel culture gone too far?

[@ADKBuddy]

Oh yeah yeah

[@beddoddies7316]

It doesn’t exist. Except when it’s tulpa is being used as part of the marketing strategy for a comedy special, to great effect by the look of it.

[@davidabest94]

Yes

[@BensyBens]

yes!

[@Lee-xs2jt]

yes

[@SidneyMosley]

Of all the people who deserve to be cancelled... (Harvey Weinstein, Donald Sterling, R. Kelly, ect.) Dave Chappelle ISN'T one of those people.

[@478Johnnyboy]

The fact that people have been talking about him for weeks and nothing has happened…..gives you your answer.

[@antdavis5421]

Can’t cancel Dave. End of story!!

[@friedchicken4735]

Dave is not getting cancelled the question is will Netflix pull the special?

[@Puertoito]

@@friedchicken4735 I doubt it, but people can cancel their membership. That’s an option too for the wokes.

[@mistersippiburning]

He went home (Africa) to reset, and scoffed at 50 mil. He's not phased by cancel culture.

[@Rockahfellahh]

why yall comparing criminals to Dave Chappelle

[@DoomedScholar]

You can really tell who didn’t watch the special.

[@3wingsandchips335]

The question is will the cancel culture survive Dave Chappelle.

[@Phillip-wt4dz]

No, as long as social media exists, we're fucked beyond all relief

[@DaveConrey]

The real question is should a journalist express their opinion on a topic after dropping only half the story?

[@niirceollae2]

Dude I dont get what is so bad about what he said.. I saw the special and cant see what is so bad

[@winston8726]

Dave can never be canceled that just how it will always be

[@BaseDaKIDTheHARDCORECasual]

Dave will always be relevant. Regardless of what cry babies feel about his jokes.

[@notcosteffective9920]

No ones is saying he wouldn’t be. Seems like part of the problem here is that he entices reactionary attitudes like this.

[@BasedRichardNixon]

@@notcosteffective9920 bro cancel culture itself is a reactionary attitude lol we’re just over here laughing at Chappelle jokes while the trans start crying about it

[@DanteTW1]

Agreed! When you’ve made the money he has (Fuck You Money) he doesn’t have to care and it’s a beautiful thing

[@notcosteffective9920]

@@BasedRichardNixon I’m not advocating cancellation tho. You can call out dumb shit without canceling. There’s a nuanced way to criticize a piece. Even most people that disagree with his trans comments still like the rest of the special. I think information outlets like this over blow their estimation of public opinion in cases like this. Nobody’s really tryna cancel Dave.

[@alexllamas4599]

Now saying this I don’t want to cancel him!!! I just want him to know that I see him as a freak for being a TERF! That’s freedom of speech not CANCEL CULTURAL! We all know Dave Chappelle will come out of this controversy unfazed, I just think it’s important to use speech to push back against his psychotic anti trans rhetoric.

[@actionentertainmentnow]

He can’t be cancelled because the way he speaks isn’t new. People are acting like he’s been hiding these thoughts in the shadows and they’re just coming to light. No, look at the Chappelle show and come back to me. He’s always said the things he’s wanted and didn’t care about backlash. That’s why he’s the goat 💯

[@blers87]

Just like eminem.. 🤣

[@notcosteffective9920]

But can’t he be held accountable? Seems like there’s a valid middle ground here

[@blers87]

@@notcosteffective9920 Freedom of speech.

[@notcosteffective9920]

@@blers87 It goes both ways. No one is talking about freedom of speech though. Just saying people can get called out when they say something dumb. Most people who disagree with him still say most of the special was funny. There’s a nuanced approach to criticism.

[@blers87]

@@notcosteffective9920 If people don't like it then just watch something else.. imagine they canceled directors for making violent horror movies... sounds dumb.

[@UnspokenPassion]

What I don't like is the fact that Clara glossed over the reason for Dave's Trans comedian friend committing suicide. So in depth about Dave and the jokes he makes but doesn't mention the reason his friend committed suicide is because the very same members of the Trans community consistently attacked the comedian over an opinion/support she had for Dave.

[@Ripotes]

I love how the discussion was entirely focused on whether or not somebody can be forgiven for being cancelled. Nobody even entertained the possibility the internet mob could have gotten the whole situation wrong to begin with . Nobody should be convicted in the court of public opinion. I hope the rest of Gen Z isnt like this.

[@malcolmxpanther]

The FED government canceled R Kelly but he still has million of streams a month. You can’t cancel anybody

[@WWEfan051905]

My schopl got us watching Complex news in advisory class. W

[@XHale]

This is ridiculous, did you actually watch the special? He defended the LGBTQ community in his stand up.

[@ShizAudi]

Dave is the GOAT 🐐 the closer was a great special 👏🏽

[@DNGx3]

For the most part, all people have to do is acknowledge when they’re wrong and apologize. People mostly double down after getting called out and don’t take responsibility. That’s what makes people get “canceled”.

[@chrism7163]

Trying to remove his special is canceling. He ain’t apologizing after that

[@DNGx3]

@@chrism7163 he knew when he said what he said on stage that he’d get this response because he did something like this before. He doubled down just like all other people that have been “canceled”

[@chrism7163]

@@DNGx3 addressing his criticisms then saying “I’m Not telling another joke about lgbtq” is not doubling down but go off

[@EastCoastTempah]

Cancel culture needs to stfu. If everything got cancelled in this would because it offended someone we would literally have nothing. We'd all be living in caves.

[@Genghis_Khan3]

He's not wrong tho

[@JUSTONLINEHUMAN]

They clearly didn't watch the full show 😕 😒 😪 😐 😑 🙄

[@Itsamansworld1]

I thought this was comedy?

[@davida99]

People can't take a joke nowadays

[@TheHollandHS]

Internet : cancel culture is wrong Also internet : #cancelcuties Netflix is trolling us so deep on cancel culture

[@bricknmotor]

Lets start canceling the cancelors.

[@icymayne]

Of course he can he’s Dave and if not he will go back to Africa and come back with a whole new special lol

[@alancameron8965]

Dave Chappelle has never been cancelled.

[@GoHawks24]

Dave’s special is hilarious. Society is so soft these days.

[@dreamfyre57]

Can't get cancelled if you cancel yourself

[@htvlogs80]

The Goat 🐐 can never be canceled

[@elcoriyodelo3ojo]

I do not give 0 fucks. Long live the GOAT Dave Chappelle.

[@nasfrom-da-ldn7362]

I hope to reach this untouchable level of greatness one day.

[@jefb9248]

There are many comedians that I don’t agree with, that are gross, racist, or sexist. Cancel everyone!?

[@amaddenmind4597]

James Gunn just directed guardians of the galaxy 3 so how is he canceled

[@stephen-john1677]

Police town, Dave will never be cancelled

[@ernestorodriguez456]

Why is he allowed to joke about blacks, whites, the Chinese but not trans? Why they special?

[@Itsamansworld1]

Why are there groups of people who think they are so much better than others that you cant question or joke about them.... Grow up

[@notcosteffective9920]

That’s not the point at all. No one is saying that.

[@Itsamansworld1]

@@notcosteffective9920 so explain why certain groups are above criticism

[@notcosteffective9920]

@@Itsamansworld1 they’re not. Again no is saying that. It can be done in a tactful and educated way. He conflates sex and gender which I think contributes to his lack of understanding. Dave isn’t getting canceled as exemplified by sold out shows. A small part of his audience is having discourse about something he said. Why is that not ok? Is he not allowed to be criticized? Really seems like everyone clamoring to his defense is complaining erroneously that people can’t take criticism, while literally being the ones snowflaking over criticism. You can find many level headed critiques from trans people online, seldom do they call for cancellation. Maybe leave your echo chamber sometimes.

[@bluntforcetanya]

Hold on, Michael Scott?? 😂

[@The503factory]

Stupid questions nothing should be cancelled 😠 people are just dumb with too much time on their hands

[@mrh-townjohnson7717]

Damn when was Dave canceled

[@bena3788]

Great conversation -to cancel or not to cancel?

[@billrafferty6552]

Does she think Dave’s album is called the close-er

[@blers87]

Next there going to try and cancel movie writers 🤪

[@cosmicfxx]

Enough is enough of the woke society. Yeah baby...for people like you it's selective cancellation when you feel it's offensive, ignore what other think

[@sayilu]

Can we cancel mainstream media?

[@2facegemini234]

Nobody perfect 🙏🏽

[@krystopherpoe7629]

Her example of Dave Chappelle joking on R Kelly’s “obsession with underage girls” was outta context ASF. Also I wish she said what might of BEEN THE REASON as to why Dave’s friend Daphne committed suicide. A lot of shit is missing CONTEXT, n it’s why people are so impulsive in these type of situations. I bet a lot of the people that are outraged from the special haven’t even watched the whole thing in its entirety.

[@notcosteffective9920]

You can hold someone accountable without canceling them. All the comments here seem to take an all or nothing approach. He said some dumb shit, let it be called out.

[@ferrellcatdragon2017]

Agreed

[@Cavemf]

It’s crazy that someone’s OPINION can cause this lmao

[@ZandeKongo]

Bunch of absolute nonsense.

[@mikefr6022]

can’t cancel a goat

[@LuisRamirez-vv4dk]

Yes cancel culture has gone too far. Dave Chappelle did nothing wrong. He made jokes infront of the whole world. This video bring up people that did terrible things, like sex offenders. What kind of shit is that? Chappelle did nothing that warrants being compared to them.

[@Djbandit23]

They asked a bunch of weirdos. You should have asked a regular degular New Yorkers. The responses would have been: “Cancel what?!?”

[@earlwright4872]

People now a days just to sensitive. At the end of the day it’s just jokes.

[@11thWoods]

Cancel deez!!!

[@ernestorodriguez456]

Kinda feel if you’re black yiu won’t be canceled

[@arighteousname5882]

He already has.

[@Carvolution11]

Woke society lmao

[@boxingmonster886]

I’m going to cancel this weak episode

[@beddoddies7316]

The entire marketing strategy for this special was getting y’all to talk about cancel culture. Like Kat Williams said. If you can’t operate respectfully in your comedy, maybe you where never that funny to begin with.

[@Lee-xs2jt]

anyone claiming he is transphobic has clearly not watched the special...also you cannot cancel someone who is uncancellable...and no one today can take a joke and that's the problem with all you "woke" people

[@nicholasbenjamin3166]

Cancel family guy

[@turtle6028]

Let’s Go Brandon

[@isaackagboola]

y'all done fell off since EDS.

[@anonymousone9739]

Cancel this reporter. Bc why not if we cancels Anthony that offends us

[@FATMANDD1]

Dave Chapelle being canceled it’s whatever he doesn’t care he’s got his money and he’s fucking awesome but in his special he pinpointed something very real. His jokes don’t drive people to suicide the communities that they are in the wall drive them to murder them selves Daphne was a close friend of his she understood his jokes and laughed she wanted to be human even though she defended him online her community attacked her in Forest her to do the unthinkable it was in Dave’s jokes and for that Dave Chapelle had a huge grudge against their community because she was part of his community yes a comedian but also a good friend someone who could take a joke and not gets so easily defensive about it.

[@aliabdelaziz905]

That girl gap was crazy

[@ricardodsavant2965]

Cancel this >>> 💨

[@belogical9748]

It is the newer kids. Anybody under 21 is gone. Brain dead as hell. People over 21 were halfway there.

[@ap1dot988]

Yes

[@Carvolution11]

Crybabies

[@bengorsh5796]

This entire channel is CRINGE! I find this channel to be very disrespectful and spreading hate

[@solodolo4098]

James Gunn didn't get cancelled 🤣🤣🤣. Do your research Complex like wtf does The Kardashians have to do with culture?