In his latest Netflix special, “The Dreamer,” Dave Chappelle continues to include anti-trans jokes, despite previous controversies surrounding his stand-up content. In his previous special, “The Closer,” Chappelle faced backlash and staff boycotts at Netflix due to his insensitive and contentious jokes about transgender people. Despite the controversy, Chappelle seems undeterred in his new special.
“The Dreamer” begins with Chappelle narrating his encounter with Jim Carrey, who was method acting as Andy Kaufman during the filming of “Man on the Moon.” Chappelle compares this experience to interacting with transgender individuals, using it as a setup for his jokes.
Chappelle then claims he won’t make fun of transgender people again, a statement followed by a transition to making jokes about disabled individuals. He asserts, “I’m going all handicapped jokes tomorrow. They’re never as well-organized as gay people. I also enjoy punching over.”
The special then shifts focus to Madison Cawthorn, a former Republican congressman who uses a wheelchair. Chappelle makes light of Cawthorn’s personal life and allegations, further demonstrating his inclination towards insensitive humor.
Returning to the subject of transgender individuals, Chappelle talks about attempting to reconcile with the transgender community. He mentions writing a play, humorously titled with a provocative name, and describes its tragic storyline, ending with the death of the trans character from loneliness.
In a later part of the special, Chappelle imagines a scenario where he is sentenced to prison, expressing a wish to be in a Californian prison where he could identify as a woman. He portrays this with crude humor and explicit language, reinforcing his pattern of contentious jokes.
Chappelle also references a 2022 incident where he was attacked backstage, attributing the assault to his history of LGBTQ jokes. He jokes about the attacker’s bisexuality, continuing his trend of making light of serious issues.
Chappelle’s special has sparked anticipation for reactions from audiences, particularly regarding his use of stereotypes and controversial humor surrounding transgender individuals and their experiences in prisons.
