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Netflix Boss Refuses To Remove Dave Chappelle's Controversial New Standup Show

Netflix Boss Refuses To Remove Dave Chappelle's Controversial New Standup Show

Ted Sarandos said The Closer doesn't cross 'the line on hate' and comedy 'exists to push boundaries'.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The head of Netflix has rejected calls to remove Dave Chappelle's controversial new standup show.

The Closer has been attracting a lot of headlines since it dropped earlier this month and it's not because everyone is laughing at it.

The comedian made several observations about the LGBT community, which has left many outraged, especially considering this isn't the first time he's made these types of 'jokes'.

A memo issued by co-CEO Ted Sarandos explained how 'some talent may join third parties in asking us to remove the show in the coming days, which we are not going to do'.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service's boss added: "Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him.

"As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom - even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful, like Cuties, 365 Days, 13 Reasons Why or My Unorthodox Life.

"Several of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate.

"We don't allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don't believe The Closer crosses that line.

"I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries. Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean-spirited but our members enjoy it, and it's an important part of our content offering."

During The Closer, Chappelle said he supported J.K. Rowling, who has also been criticised for her comments about the transgender community.

At one point, he says: "They cancelled J.K. Rowling, my God. Effectively, she said gender was a fact, the trans community got mad as s**t, they started calling her a TERF.

Jason Koerner/ZUMA Wire

"I'm Team TERF. I agree. I agree, man. Gender is a fact. 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.

He went on to say that 'people who watch my specials would know that I never had a problem with transgender people'.

Chappelle also referenced rapper DaBaby, whose career fell off a cliff earlier this year when he made a series of homophobic remarks during a gig in July this year.

However, Chappelle asks why was he not cancelled back in 2018 when he admitted to shooting and killing a man in a supermarket.

When he was asked about the criticism on his standup show he replied: "If this is what being canceled is like, I love it.

"F**k Twitter. F**k NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid a** networks. I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to you. This is real life."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Celebrity, Netflix