When ‘Words Are Violence’ Turns to Actual Violence
5th May 2022
In the wake of comedian Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special The Closer, activists both online and off warned that Chappelle’s jokes about the trans community would lead to real-world harm, even murder. Instead the trans community has struck first by attacking Chappelle onstage.
In his special, Chappelle tells the story of a trans person and friend who defended his stand-up material. Chappelle offered his friend career help by having her open for him on stage. Yet after being bullied by the trans mob for supporting Chappelle, his friend committed suicide.
Earlier this week, Chappelle himself was physically attacked at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, during a comedy set that saw many famous faces, including Elon Musk and Chris Rock, in the audience. A 23-year-old man stormed the stage with a replica weapon, and was quickly subdued by security.
The attacker was identified as a young man attempting a rap career who had written a song about Chappelle. According to Rolling Stone, the assailant has links to the trans community and has been staying in and out of homeless shelters. We don’t know if the attacker himself identifies as trans, and no one is pointing fingers at the trans community. But his links to the community and their outrage at Chappelle certainly can’t be ignored.