Dave Chappelle hits out at 'cancel' culture amid Netflix transgender row: 'I said what I said'

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By Nika Shakhnazarova

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Dave Chappelle is standing by his Netflix stand-up special, The Closer, as he hit back at those he says want to "cancel" him.

Just days after the 48-year-old comic said he was "open" to speak with the streamer's employees about the controversy, he extended the offer to any transgender person who wanted to sit down with him.

However, he did have a few conditions.

"It was said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused. That is not true," he said in a video posted to Instagram on Monday, October 25.

He went on: "If they invited me, I would have accepted it, although I'm confused about what we're speaking about.

"I said what I said. And, boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. Well, it seems like I'm the only one that can't go to the office anymore."

Per BBC, Chappelle added that he doesn't "blame" the LGBTQ community for the controversy, claiming that "it's about corporate interest."

"For the record, and I need you to know this. Everyone I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supporting," he continued. "So I don't know what all this nonsense is about."

The comedian also told the audience that his upcoming documentary about his summer 2020 comedy tour, titled Untitled, has been excluded from film festivals because of the backlash against The Closer.

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"Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix. He's the only one who didn't cancel me yet," Chappelle said.

He concluded by insisting that he's open to meeting with any members of the transgender community but joked that he has several conditions they must meet first.

"To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody's demands," he said.

"And if you want to meet with me, I'd be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing. And thirdly, you must admit that [Australian comedian and fellow Netflix star] Hannah Gadsby is not funny."

In his latest stand-up release, Chappelle defended JK Rowling after weighing in on the writer's comments about the transgender community.

Chappelle said he "agrees" that "gender is a fact", as he discussed how the Harry Potter author had been branded a "TERF" (Trans-exclusionary radical feminist).

His special sparked mass outrage on social media, with many viewers putting pressure on Netflix to remove The Closer from the streaming giant immediately.

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Hundreds of Netflix employees and supporters took to the streets on October 20 as they gathered in the shadow of the streaming giant’s Los Angeles headquarters.

But the event, which was intended to showcase solidarity with the trans community, grew tense at certain points as protesters clashed with a vocal crowd of the comedian's fans.

The HQ building saw dozens of passionate trans supporters waving signs reading "Trans Lives Matter" and "Transphobia is Not a Joke".

Featured image credit: REUTERS / Alamy