Dave Chappelle: The Closer review: No more LGBTQ jokes as he addresses ‘issues’ with the community

2.5/5

Story: Is Dave Chappelle homophobic? More specifically, is he transphobic? Does he go out of his way to punch down on members of the community? In his last special, the comedian addresses this and more.

Review: Why do we watch comedy? For life-altering motivational mumbo-jumbo? No, right? Most comedians pick on day-to-day circumstances to build their jokes around, but at the end of the day, they are only jokes; all we’ve got to do is laugh or not, depending on whether the comic is able to land those punch lines. A comic can’t always be politically correct and still get people to laugh. So, my approach to a stand-up show is to not overthink it or be too sensitive and have the occasional laugh, at least. 

Dave Chappelle’s The Closer is the comic’s last special for Netflix and he chooses to close out with a 1-hour long show that’s mostly about the LGBTQIA+ community, or as he calls it, LBGTQ (was that intentional?). If you are an ally of the community and are sympathetic to their cause, chances are that you will find The Closer offensive in parts. Despite his protestations that he is not transphobic, many of his jokes are in stark contrast. Sample this - “I am not saying that to say trans women aren’t women, I am just saying that those pussies that they got… you know what I mean? I’m not saying it’s not pussy, but it’s beyond pussy or impossible pussy. It tastes like pussy, but that’s not quite what it is, is it? That’s not blood, that’s beet juice,” he says. The problem with Dave’s show is his not-so-subtle attempt at telling the LGBTQIA+ community not to punch down on ‘his’ people and how they should not have taken away a man’s livelihood; “it’s like killing him”, he says, referring to the outrage over rapper DaBaby or Kevin Hart, whose chance to host the Oscars was taken away. The victim card just doesn’t play out right here.

But then again, comedy is subjective, based on our understanding, current mood, preferences, background, etc. It’s a personal choice to watch a comedy show that is bound to be irreverent and politically incorrect; so, the best course of action here is to laugh at the jokes that he nails and not fret about what he didn’t and why, just like the two white elderly poker-faced women in the audience. This wasn't an ROFL-kinda show, but it sure had its moments. For the most part, Chappelle had his audience eating out of his hand; people like this kind of comedy and the applause at the end of the show was testimony to that.

Verdict: Dave Chappelle’s show is profanity-laden, but if you are used to his brand of comedy and his reference to everyone as ‘nigga’ or ‘bitch’ this could be worth your time.

Where to watch: Dave Chappelle: The Closer is currently streaming on Netflix