The repercussions of “cancel culture” did not affect Dave Chappelle as he resumes his controversial jokes regarding trans individuals during his sold-out shows across the country.
According to the Daily Beast, the comedian has been regularly selling out screenings of his new documentary, Untitled, with his recent stop at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday.
After facing a backlash with his remarks from The Closer, Chappelle promised to go on the tour so people could form their own opinions about the comedian’s jokes themselves. During his set on Monday night, Chappelle openly shared his views and jokes regarding transgender folks and the trans community. In addition, the comedian took jabs at using pronouns, jokingly stated that he’d advocate for better prison accommodations if he identified as a woman, and promised to stop making LGBTQ jokes.
However, Chappelle said he would no longer tell the jokes if he and community members could laugh at them together while the cameras were rolling, The Daily Beast reports.
“I’m telling you: It’s done. I’m done talking about it,” the comedian concluded.
The 48-year-old didn’t bother to hold anything back during the show as he mentioned his recent adversities with the LGBTQ community and “cancel culture.” “Week four of being canceled, it’s crazy,” he continued.
In the closing of the screening, Chappelle brought friends and musicians on stage, saying he was glad that he wasn’t “totally canceled,” which leaves many questioning whether he had taken the backlash against him seriously.
According to USA Today, Netflix announced that two former employees dropped their complaints against the streaming company on Monday, and a recent employee has resigned.
Terra Field, a software engineer who is trans, voluntarily resigned and announced on Sunday.
“This isn’t how I thought things would end, but I’m relieved to have closure,” Field said in a resignation letter posted online.
Fields had previously been suspended for attempting to attend a high-profile meeting that she wasn’t invited to; B. Pagels-Minor, a game launch program manager, filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board. They alleged that Netflix “retaliated against the workers to keep them from speaking up about working conditions, including Netflix’s products and the impact of its product choices on the LGBTQ+ community,” USA Today reports.
On Monday, Netflix made a statement regarding the changes in the company. “We have resolved our differences in a way that acknowledges the erosion of trust on both sides and, we hope, enables everyone to move on.”
“Initially, Pagels-Minor (pronouns they/them) had denied the streaming companies allegations that they were the ones who disclosed “confidential financial information” about what the streamer paid for The Closer. However, they did identify themselves as the employee fired last month for allegedly doing so.
