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submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Dave Chappelle has released a new Netflix special, The Dreamer, which is full of jokes about the trans community and disabled people.

“I love punching down!” he tells the audience, in a one-hour show that landed on the streaming service today (31 December).

It’s his seventh special for Netflix and comes two years after his last one, the highly controversial release The Closer.

That programme was criticised for its relentless jokes about the trans community, and Chappelle revisits the topic in his new show.

He tells jokes about trans women in prison, and about trans people “pretending” to be somebody they are not.

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[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 32 points 7 months ago

Not surprised he has all the self reflection of a bigoted comedian being told not to use a slur.

He will be remembered with an asterisk to anything positive he did.

[-] linearchaos@lemmy.world 32 points 7 months ago

Ancient comedian desperately struggles to stay relevant, only manages to capture the attention of a few boomers and nazis. news at 11.

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[-] TechyDad@lemmy.world 30 points 7 months ago

Punching down is never funny. Picking on people who have been marginalized or attacked for being who they are winds up being cruel, not humorous. Maybe a skilled comedian could punch down in such a way that it's funny, but it would be an extremely rare event.

If you want to punch and be funny, you have two options. The first is to punch up. Hit the people in power. Hit the people who have luxury. For example, a joke making fun of poor people isn't likely to be funny. A joke making fun of wealthy people, though? That has a much better chance of being funny.

The other punch style is the self punch. This is where you make fun of yourself or your own "group." For example, I'm Jewish. If a non-Jew makes a "Jews run the world" joke, it'll likely come across as highly anti-semitic. If I were to make that joke, I'd stand a decent chance of getting a laugh. (Well, assuming that I had basic comedy skills.)

When the right complains that the left has ruined comedy, what they really mean is that they can't make fun of people who are suffering without being called cruel.

[-] escaped_cruzader@lemmy.world 34 points 7 months ago

For example, I’m Jewish. If a non-Jew makes a “Jews run the world” joke, it’ll likely come across as highly anti-semitic. If I were to make that joke, I’d stand a decent chance of getting a laugh

You mean to say that the Jews that run the world have access to exclusive jokes?

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[-] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 7 months ago

He's such a culture warrior hack now. Trans jokes? It's getting old bro. Your material sucks.

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[-] echodot@feddit.uk 27 points 7 months ago

Stephen Fry once said that comedy is about punching up. Anyone can punch down, it takes real talent to punch up, you have to make fun of your betters, because they think they are your betters.

Beating on people who are already incredibly socially ostracized is not comedy, it's bullying. If you think it's comedy then you're a bully.

[-] hperrin@lemmy.world 23 points 7 months ago

Well, I’m glad I’m closing my Netflix account.

[-] JigglySackles@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago

If you don't like it, don't watch it. I've kinda given up on Chappelle. I'm not offended, he's just not really funny to me anymore. I'm sure I'll catch the few funny bits in a YT short soon and that'll be enough for me.

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[-] icepick3455o65@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

ITT: People who thought it was ok and punching up when he made fun of ghetto black people early in his career but today have an objection when its trans white people being the topic of 3 jokes out of an hour special

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[-] gmtom@lemmy.world 18 points 7 months ago

Old man that's not funny and becoming irrelevant got a lot of attention from right wing chuds, so decided to pander to the right wing chuds to try and stay relevant.

[-] galloFino@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

He's got a really niche audience. People who think they're all cool just for being "politically incorrect." Like other comedians in the american scene.

I used to like his comedy – great storyteller and all. But lately, it's like his specials follow this routine: some jokes on how racism's still an issue, mixed with a bit of him claiming he's the top comedian alive. And let's not forget the bits where he suggests making fun of people's choices is all in good fun.

The crowd at these specials? Feels like a bunch of yes men, laughing and clapping at every word from Chappelle. It makes watching his stuff on Netflix a bit of a struggle for me.

Don't get me wrong, the guy's talented. Awesome timing and storytelling. But nowadays, being a badass doesn't mean being a bully, and it seems like that shift bugs him and his entourage of yes men. That's probably why his specials come off a bit too harsh, at least in my book.

[-] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago

It's crazy to me that he bitches about racism still being an issue, while he spreads hate and bigotry on another minority group.

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[-] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago

This is just NotTheOnion territory at this point

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this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2024
394 points (77.8% liked)

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