Dave Chappelle has spoken out about the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, in a recent comedy gig that didn’t go down well with some of the audience.
The comedian appeared at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 19 and 20, as advertised on the venue’s website. The performances were part of his It’s A Celebration tour. During his performance, he criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza and the initial attacks on October 7 by Hamas on Israel.
His alleged rant condemned the attack, where Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza.
Richard Bord/Getty Images
The Wall Street Journal reported that Chappelle condemned Hamas’s first initial attack on Israel, then criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza and said it took place “while the whole world sits silently and watches.”
The account came from two guests who attended the event who told the newspaper what the star allegedly said. The pair added that several audience members walked out.
In addition, Chappelle accused the United States of aiding the slaughter of innocent people. He added that the Israeli government cutting off water and other essentials to Gaza was “killing innocent women and children” with U.S. taxpayer dollars.
An audience member is said to have told Chappelle to shut up, to which he allegedly batted back and told the audience member to be quiet.
Audience members allegedly cheered Chappelle on and chanted “Free Palestine” as he continued, to which he responded: “You’re damn right, Free Palestine.”
Newsweek has contacted Chappelle’s management and TD Garden via email for comment.
There has been lots of chatter online following the allegations. Several accounts of events that unfolded have also appeared online, which Newsweek is unable to verify at this time.
A fan in support wrote: “Dave Chappelle is a real G. Never doubted him @DaveChappelle.”
“Dave Chappelle is and will always be the best,” one added.
Another posted: “Dave Chappelle is a legend. He speaks the truth and doesn’t care about the haters. Respect.”
Those who disagreed were equally as vocal. A social-media user commented: “When his audience gets smaller, he won’t be so legend.”
Another added: “Dave Chappelle getting canceled once again.”
One shared: “Well this is a shame. I really liked Dave Chappelle and I defend his 1A [First Amendment] rights because I’m a Free Speech purist, but any lack of support for Israel in any way is a deal breaker for me. So now I gotta boycott this funny man. And it’s really a shame.”
Chappelle also spoke about the news of students losing job offers over expressing support for Palestinian people.
Is Dave Chappelle Muslim?
The 50-year-old comedian is Muslim and found the religion of Islam at the age of 17.
In the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, Chappelle shared his views on being a Muslim and how, although he finds it “beautiful,” he isn’t “always good at it.”
When first questioned on “what were the circumstances” he became Muslin, Chappelle said: “I don’t know, believing in God and stuff.
“I should preface this by saying ‘It’s not like I am good at it,'” he can be seen saying in a comical fashion.
In the episode, he shared that, at the age of 17, when he was living in Washington D.C., it was a meeting in a pizza shop that spurred him on to follow the religion.
“The pizza shop was across from my house, and it was, like, all these Muslim dudes that worked in there,” Chappelle said.
“I used to go in there and crack jokes. And I am also a naturally curious guy, and I would ask [the owner] questions about his religion,” he added. “The guy was so passionate about it. It was very compelling. I liked the perspective of it.”
Later on, on how Islam and being a Muslim were perceived in the world, Chappelle said: “It’s been presented in the public space in such a narrow and dismissive view.
“It’s a beautiful religion. And the ideas in that religion are reflected in all the major Abrahamic faiths. You’ll see these ideas in both Christianity and Judaism, you know. It is the idea that this place does mean something, you know?”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.