Dave Chappelle sparks controversy, mixed reactions over alleged comments about Israel-Hamas war

At a show at Boston’s TD Garden, Chappelle reportedly stated that students voicing support for Palestine should not be denied job opportunities, remarks that prompted a heckler.

Dave Chappelle is no stranger to sparking controversy with his word choice, and his recent remarks on the Israel-Hamas war are no exception.

The comedian, 50, reportedly criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza and the United States’ backing of the effort at a show Thursday at Boston’s TD Garden. According to Vanity Fair, Chappelle stated that students who voiced support for Palestine should not be denied job opportunities — remarks that prompted a heckler to tell him to shut up.

Chappelle continued to elaborate on his views on the conflict. Following his condemnation of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis, he “accused Israel of killing innocent civilians and committing war crimes,” Page Six claimed, and said America “was guilty of aiding the slaughter of innocent civilians,” reported Deadline.

The audience members’ reaction varied. Some clapped and yelled “Free Palestine,” while others walked out.

“The audience was cheering Chappelle on during his tirade,” one person shared via social media, according to Vanity Fair. “I was sick. We were sick. I turned to my friends and wife and said, ‘I think it is time to go.'”

“We walked out and met up with many other Jews leaving the show,” the attendee added. “Never in my life have I felt so unsafe and so fearful of what I was witnessing.”

According to Vanity Fair, a spokesperson for Chappelle informed the Wall Street Journal he “denies being in Boston” for the heavily publicized gig. It shows no signs of being canceled.

Chappelle’s latest comments come two years after his Netflix special “The Closer,” which sparked many complaints, anger and protests from the LGBTQ community and, specifically, transgendered America and their supporters. 

TheGrio previously reported on the controversial performance that saw Chappelle share stories surrounding LGBTQ people, including one in which he fought with a butch lesbian, maintaining that he “did beat the s–t out of her.”

“I’m not gonna lie. It was her fault,” he said. “I had no choice.”

Chappelle also defended Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who reportedly has a history of spewing transphobic remarks. Trans activists refer to Rowling as a TERF, or trans-exclusionary radical feminist. While defending her in the special, Chappelle remarked, “I’m Team TERF!”

“Gender is a fact,” he added. “Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact. Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren’t women, I am just saying that those p–sies that they got … you know what I mean? I’m not saying it’s not p—y, but it’s ‘Beyond P—y’ or ‘Impossible P—y.'”

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