Dave Chappelle has decided not to let his former high school name its theater after him.
The controversial comedian made it clear on Monday night that he did not want his name to appear on the theatre at his alma mater, Duke Ellington Schol of the Arts in Washington D.C.
Per a report by The Washington Post, Chappelle explained that he was "sincerely" hurt by the backlash he had received, especially from current students at the school. However, he also did not want his name - or the controversy surrounding him - to affect or distract students using the space.
Instead, the theater will be named the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.
The school first planned to name its theater after Chappelle last year. As one of their most prolific donors and supporters who has donates several million dollars to the school, it made sense to honor the comedian with a dedication.
However, the naming ceremony was postponed after Chappelle became mired in controversy over his 2021 Netflix special 'The Closer'. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community called him out over what they deemed to be transphobic language and transphobic jokes during the stand-up performance.
Speaking in Washington D.C. on Mondy, Chappelle made it very clear that he does not agree with the criticisms lodged against him.
He reportedly compared his Netflix special to the Mona Lisa, saying: "I saw in the newspaper that a man who was dressed in women’s clothing threw a pie at the Mona Lisa and tried to deface it. And it made me laugh and I thought, 'It’s like The Closer.'"
"You cannot report on an artist’s work and remove artistic nuance," he added.
However, Chappelle went on to say that - regardless of his own beliefs - he did not want students to be negatively affected by his name being attached to the theater building.
"The idea that my name will be turned into an instrument of someone else’s perceived oppression is untenable to me," Chappelle said.
After announcing his decision, Chappelle went on to reaffirm that he still feels close ties with the institution - even if the theater would not be named in his honor. "The Ellington family is my family," he said to audiences.
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