What did Dave Chappelle say? Netflix staff criticizes ‘special’ Transphobic ‘The Closer’

Netflix workers staged a walkout in October to protest a Dave Chappelle comedy special in which the comedian was accused of creating transverse jokes.

The comedian responded to the backlash against his show in a video posted on Instagram, saying he’s “open to transgender people as an audience.”

However, it is yet to be confirmed whether the attacker targeted the comedian for his controversial comments.

Here’s everything you need to know about the situation.

In the comedy special, called CloserChappelle says that “gender is a fact” and LGBTQ+ people are “too sensitive”.

He said: “They canceled JK Rowling – God. In fact, she said gender is true, the transgender community went crazy, they started calling her Terf… I’m the Terf group. ”

Terf is an acronym for “extra-exclusionary feminism,” and refers to people who do not believe that transgender women are women.

Chappelle continued: “Gender is a fact. Every person in this room, every human being on earth, has to go through a woman’s feet in order to stay on earth. This is the truth.”

Chappelle has expressed his views on homosexuality in the past, like in 2016 when he said he didn’t want “a woman with a dick” to use the urinal next to him in the bathroom. . He also defended former US President Donald Trump’s ban on allowing transgender people to join the military.

In his 2019 Netflix special, called Sticks and stones, Chappelle calls transgender people “confusing”.

Two days after the release of Chappelle’s special, Netflix’s transgender employee, Terra Field, responded to the comedian’s claims that the community has a “thin skin.”

In a Twitter thread, she wrote: “I work on @Netflix. Yesterday, we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the transgender community and transgender validity – all while trying to compete us with marginalized groups. other disadvantage. You will hear a lot of talk about “insults”. We are not offended.

“Being transgender is actually pretty funny, if you’re someone who really knows the subject. How can volunteering for a second *no* be so funny? That’s not what he’s doing. Our existence is ‘funny’ to him – and when we object to harming him, we are being ‘offended’. “

She added: “The promotion of the TERF ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms transgender people, it’s not some kind of behavior. neutral motion. This is not a two-way argument. It’s an argument with transgender people who want to live and those who don’t want us to be. “

Field then went on to list a large number of transgender people who have been murdered this year alone.

On Wednesday, October 20, employees held a protest walkout, with employees joining the protest outside one of the company’s main Hollywood facilities.

Protest organizer Ashlee Marie Preston said at the rally: “We’re here to talk live with Netflix.

“We tried to talk to Dave Chappelle but he couldn’t, so we’re in direct contact with the check signers.

“We won’t go far.”

Opponents are not asking for a special takedown, but instead are asking Netflix to create a fund to develop transgender and non-binary talent in the entertainment industry.

Chappelle responded on Instagram about the backlash to his Netflix special.

He posted a video on his Instagram account on Monday, October 25, showing the first public reaction to the criticism since his special aired on Netflix on October 25. October 5.

The video was shot at a gig in Louisville, Kentucky, with podcaster Joe Rogan. He told the audience:

“The press said I was invited to speak to the transgender staff at Netflix and I declined.

“That’s not true. If they invited me, I would. Even though I’m confused about what we’re talking about… You said you wanted a safe work environment at Netflix. Seems like like I’m the only one who can’t come to the office anymore.”

“For the transgender community, I am willing to give you an audience,” he continued. “But you won’t summon me. I don’t obey anyone’s request.”

Chappelle denied he was against the LGBT community and said “this has nothing to do with them. It’s about the company’s interests and what I can say and what I can’t say. “

Because of the backlash, Chappelle’s invitation to screen his new documentary, Untitled, at film festivals, was canceled and he asked the audience to decide “am I cancelled? “

“Today, not a studio, not a studio, not a film festival… will touch this film,” he said.

Ahead of the walkout, Netflix released a statement saying it would respect any workers who chose to participate in the walkout.

“We appreciate our transgender colleagues and allies, and understand the profound trauma inflicted,” it said. We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to leave and recognize that we have a lot more work to do both in Netflix and our content.”

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended the decision to air the show, and in a leaked employee memo he said that “screen content does not directly translate into real-world harm.” , while emphasizing the importance of “artistic freedom”.

However, he recently said that he had “spoiled” his handling of the situation in an interview with Diversity.

“First and foremost, I should have led in a more humane spirit,” he said.

“Meaning, I had a group of employees who definitely felt pain and hurt from a decision we made.

“And I think that needs to be acknowledged before you dive into anything. I did not do it “.

When asked what the protocol at Netflix is ​​for identifying hate speech and what does or doesn’t cross a line, Sarandos explained that the streaming platform will “definitely draw a line on something intentional.” harm others or even remove protections”.

He then clarified that, personally, he “didn’t believe it fell into hate speech.”

Sarandos added: “One of the things that I think is very important that I want people to understand is that, going forward, it needs to be really clear that I support artistic freedom and the creators who work at Netflix. .

“I am committed to continuing to enhance my performance on screen and behind the camera, and I am open to learning and improving how to address these challenges.”

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