Dave Chappelle’s Comedy Special Sticks and Stones sparks controversy
Dave Chappelle’s most recent Netflix special, “Sticks and Stones,” has sparked outrage across the internet.
Many are quick to call the special, which was released on Aug. 26, controversial; others have called it a comedic masterpiece.
Some questions being asked by members of the public include: What should comedy be? Are there boundaries that should be crossed or pushed again, or should comedians stay in their lane?
The latest special begins with Chappelle attempting a few impressions.
“Want to see my impression of the founding fathers writing the Constitution?” he asks the crowd.
The punchline involves a racial slur.
There are more controversial lines, too. Chappelle’s bits range from jokes about the “Me Too” movement to discussing the controversy surrounding Louis C.K. and to the “alphabet people,” Chappelle’s name for the LGBTQ community.
“I would never recommend this special as a cold introduction to Dave Chappelle,” Bao Ha, a fan of the comedian, said. “I don’t think he’s approaching these topics as a way of trying to get a cheap laugh or trying to promote homo/transphobia or even victim-blaming. I get the feeling that he’s addressing these topics in a satirical way.”
Ha said that if you want to take a comedian’s words at face value, you shouldn’t be picking bits and pieces. According to Ha, if you look for something to support your argument, eventually you’ll find it, even if you have to tweak it to make it fit your agenda.
Chappelle has stirred controversy as a comedian before because of his no-filter comedy. In “Sticks and Stones,” he delves into a story about a joke he wrote during his time working on “Chappelle’s Show” in 2003 in which production kept him from using a gay slur on air. He explained his confusion, asking the audience why he could say the N-word, yet not that particular word.
“The hard thing about comedy is knowing what is appropriate and what is not,” said Carter MacDonald, American studies major, who isn’t familiar with Dave Chappelle’s work but knows he is a controversial figure.
“I think he is really coming from a place of understanding and sincerity, but it’s really easy to overlook it if you get caught up in taking everything he says at face value,” Ha said.
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