Dave Chappelle has sparked controversy after claiming he doesn’t believe Michael Jackson accusers who say the King Of Pop sexually abused them in documentary Leaving Neverland.
The stand-up legend’s brand new Netflix special Sticks & Stones began streaming on the service on Monday, and during the first 20 minutes, he takes a dig at Jimmy Safechuck and Wade Robson, the men who have made the allegations.
He told the audience: “I don’t believe these motherf***ers.”
Around the eight-minute mark of the special, Chappelle suggests that getting abused by the Thriller hitmaker wouldn’t be as bad as getting abused by someone who isn’t as famous as the former Jackson 5 star.
“I mean, it’s Michael Jackson. I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives, but it wasn’t no goddamn Michael Jackson, was it? This kid got his d*** sucked by the King of Pop.
“All we get is awkward Thanksgivings for the rest of our lives. You know how good it must have felt to go to school the next day after that s****?”
He continued: “I know it seems harsh, but somebody’s got to teach these kids. No such thing as a free trip to Hawaii. He’s going to want to look at your butthole or something.”
Chappelle also said: "This is the worst time ever to be a celebrity. You’re gonna be finished. Everyone’s doomed. Michael Jackson has been dead for 10 years, and this n**** has two new cases.”
Robson and Safechuck have not responded to Chapelle's remarks. Standard Online has contacted Leaving Neverland's director, Dan Reed, for comment.
The audience appeared to approve of the joke as they can be heard cheering and whistling as the comedian jokes that he isa “victim-blamer” – saying if he was told Chris Brown beat up Rihanna, he would reply: "Well, what did she do?"
Chappelle also mentioned Macauley Culkin's friendship with Jackson, adding: “I’m not a paedophile, but if I was, Macaulay Culkin’s the first kid I’m f***ing. I’ll tell you that right now.”
Culkin has insisted that he was never abused by the singer, who died aged 50 in 2009.
Turning his attention to other men in the spotlight, Chappelle said he’s “pretty sure” the allegations against rapper R Kelly are true but also showed support to his fellow comedian Louis CK, who found himself under the spotlight after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him in 2017.
“This is the worst time ever to be a celebrity,“ he said, adding: ”Louis CK was a very good friend of mine before he died in that terrible masturbation accident.“
Robson and Safechuck alleged that they were abused as children by Jackson on multiple visits and at his infamous ranch Neverland.
Jackson’s estate categorically denies the allegations made by Robson and Safechuck.
Sticks & Stones is now streaming on Netflix.
