Netflix are being urged to remove Dave Chappelle's new show The Closer as some claim it is 'dangerously transphobic'.
The 70-minute show sees the 48-year-old make explicit jokes about trans women’s genitals and defend DaBaby and JK Rowling, before declaring himself “Team TERF”.
Chappelle also dismisses the criticism he received for comments about trans women in his previous comedy routines, Equanimity and Sticks and Stones
Jaclyn Moore, a writer, executive producer and showrunner on Netflix series Dear White People, was so shocked by the comedy special that she has decided to cut ties with the popular streaming service.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday, she wrote: "I love so many of the people I’ve worked with at Netflix. Brilliant people and executives who have been collaborative and fought for important art… But I’ve been thrown against walls because, “I’m not a ‘real’ woman.” I’ve had beer bottles thrown at me. So, Netflix, I’m done."
Moore continued: "I will not work with them as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.
“Those words have real world consequences. Consequences that every trans woman I know has dealt with. Bruises and panicked phone calls to friends. That’s real."
“So when he says people should be mad a trans woman won a ‘Woman of the Year’ award… When he misgenders… When he says he should’ve told that mother her daughter WAS A DUDE… I just can’t… I can’t be a part of a company that thinks that’s worth putting out and celebrating," she added.
LGBT+ organisation GLAAD has also slammed Netflix and Chapelle for the show and tweeted to their 479,000 followers: "Dave Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalised communities.
"Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don’t support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree."
People also took to Twitter in their droves to comment on The Closer, with one person suggesting: "@netflix should take back Dave Chappelles salary for the last special and donate it to trans organizations. #DaveChappelle #trans."
Others sat on the fence with one person tweeting: "Watched the new #DaveChappelle special. I don’t find it as offensive as people will make it out to be, it’s very easy to tell when he’s joking. I do, however, think that TERF comment was extremely ignorant. Otherwise, not bad. #TheCloser."
Some people defended the comedian, with one viewer posting: "Saw a lot of hate for Dave Chappelle's new special The Closer. But, personally, I found it very funny."
Another said: "IMO, if you find Chappelle offensive then you're not really listening to the entirety of what he's saying. About race, gender, sexuality, any of it. #DaveChappelle #TheCloser."
