Dave Chappelle in The Closer.Photo: Mathieu Bitton
The co-CEO of Netflix is defendingDave Chappelle’s latest comedy specialThe Closer,which hassparked backlashdue to a series of controversial jokes about the LGBTQ community.
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him,” Sarandos said, perVariety. “As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful.”
Sarandos said while Netflix doesn’t allow titles “that are designed to incite hate or violence,” the company’s executives “don’t believeThe Closercrosses that line,” according toTHR.
“As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful,” he added.
Dave Chappelle.Netflix
Field, who identifies as queer and transgender, publicly condemned the streaming service’s decision to release the special onTwitter.
A spokesperson for Netflix denied that Field was suspended for speaking out against the special, tellingThe Los Angeles Times, “It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so.”
Field was unable to be reached for comment.
InThe Closer,which premiered last week, Chappelle, 48, made multiple jokes about the LGBTQ+ and trans community, at one point claiming he was “team TERF,” the term for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, an ideology that excludes trans women as women.
“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,” actress and directorTaylor Ashbrookrecently tweeted. “The Closerchanged my mind on that. That special felt so lazy and disingenuous and I’m really disappointed.”
In the staff memo, Sarandos also reportedly touched on Netflix’s deal with Chappelle, noting that his previous comedy special,Sticks & Stones, was the platform’s “most watched, stickiest and most award winning stand-up special to date.”
“Particularly in stand-up comedy, artistic freedom is obviously a very different standard of speech than we allow internally as the goals are different: entertaining people versus maintaining a respectful, productive workplace,” he said.
Chappelle, meanwhile, appeared to address the controversy during a sold-out show at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl last week.
“If this is what being canceled is like, I love it,” he said as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
source: people.com
