Seeing Dave Chappelle live is a lasting memory. My most vivid recollection of seeing him at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia about 20 years ago was how personal his stage presence felt. Someone performing comedy in such a large venue could rarely be described as “intimate,” but Chappelle somehow makes you feel like he’s in your living room.
Chappelle is a cultural commentator and a comedian
At this point, Chappelle has surpassed the label of comedian and is just as much a cultural commentator. For the politically correct hegemony, he’s the heretic du jour. But for those who love comedy, Chappelle continues to be impossible to ignore.
The Closer was filmed in Detroit and is available on Netflix
Usually, when a comedian makes the headlines, it’s because of something they did off stage. Chappelle’s The Closer has been a constant in the news since its debut on October 5, 2021. Directed by Stan Lathan, it’s his sixth and final Netflix special for the foreseeable future. When a comedian walks off the stage, whether figuratively or actually, silence is never desired. Chappelle went off that stage in Detroit with a ruckus. It’s still echoing now.
By almost every metric, The Closer is a stunning success. I mean, when was the last time a comedian got so many people to talk about his act to this degree?
Chappelle’s energy is indisputable
Dave Chappelle’s energy is indisputable in The Closer. Dave stands on the stage and delivers unadulterated sincerity. Do I agree with Chappelle on everything? Of course not. Did I laugh throughout? Yes.
Since the very first time I went to a comedy club, it occurred to me that a comedian’s job is to speak the truth. Comedy gets us to laugh about reality, which isn’t always easy to do. The Closer succeeds in this regard.
The Closer is considered controversial
The hubbub surrounding Chappelle’s latest comedy special is because of his frank talk about gender politics and activism, which begins about 10 minutes into the act. As Chappelle pronounced, “I come here tonight in peace.” I believe he was telling the truth.
I watched the special twice. The first time just to experience it as much “in the moment” as possible. The second time I tried to be aware of what the “woke mob” so strongly disapproved of. Was Chappelle malicious? No. Did he try to denigrate people? No. At no point did he belittle an entire group of people.
The Closer points out hypocrisy
So why all of the backlash? If Chappelle has any gift in abundance, it’s a perceptive nose for hypocrisy. The Closer earned the contempt of many influencers and the media due to his pointing out great inconsistencies and downright duplicity.
The viewer or listener is free to interpret art from their viewpoint or to eschew an artist altogether. Many of the people most critical of Chappelle’s work don’t just dislike it. They would prefer it not to exist. In one segment he cleverly illustrates the fact that if you don’t like something you shouldn’t buy it.
If you really want to offend, tell the truth
The controversy surrounding The Closer is a testament that offending certain favored and protected circles is the greatest sin in our society. For many of the perpetually offended, inconvenient facts are standing in the way. Chappelle’s latest work has earned the ire of a small, but aggressive class. Why? For saying out loud certain realities.
Many of the most critical never watched the special
The problem with so many of the most hysterical naysayers of The Closer is that they admit to never having watched it. They’re just repeating (sometimes ad nauseam) what the other self-serving virtue signalers say.
Did Netflix stand by Chappelle?
So how did Netflix respond to the backlash and efforts to have the special removed from the streaming service? At first, the co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings stood by the special and its creator. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it, right? Before on-demand streaming, viewers were limited to what was being broadcast at that moment. With Netflix, you have to choose the content you want to watch.
Call me cynical, but I immediately doubted Netflix’s fortitude. Sure enough, in an interview not long after the initial defense of The Closer, Sarandos made some milksop statements in an attempt to appease the chronic whiners. But with all of the money spent on the special, they upheld their decision to keep the show available. Do you think they would have done the same for a comedian who wasn’t “rich and famous,” to use Chappelle’s own words? Not a chance. Some people are more cancelable than others.
Chappelle’s memorialized Daphne Dorman
But the question is: was Chappelle “punching down”? On the contrary, I found his expressed respect and tenderness for the late Daphne Dorman, a transgender comedian perhaps the most touching thing in any comedy special I’ve seen. It was very affecting and I was left misty-eyed. The way he spoke of Daphne Dorman instilled curiosity, admiration, and fondness for the late comedian. I regret never going to one of Daphne’s shows. So how exactly is Chappelle a bigot? Is it because he didn’t repeat verbatim the approved woke incantation?
The Closer touches on all the current topics
What offends one person may be a compliment to someone else. In The Closer, Chappelle touches on all of the public discussions: LGBT, cancel culture, race relations, and COVID-19 issues. But, all Chappelle is guilty of is saying what’s in the head of so many. Furthermore, he stated verifiable facts.
Are some groups that can’t be satirized?
Ultimately, the witty Chappelle has harnessed the power of humor to ask a question for the age. Are there some groups that are so sacred or sensitive that they can’t be satirized? Obviously not, and their fury doesn’t change a thing. Chappelle’s The Closer is an invitation to return to reason.
Chappelle will survive
Fortunately, Chappelle knows the art of addressing very contentious topics and being funny at the same time. Whether it’s on Netflix, on some other platform, or at one of his live shows, I wouldn’t miss him. No matter what your politics are, Dave brings the gift of laughter to people, and a laugh can make all the difference.
