classicsoncall Review of Dave Chappelle: The Closer

Dave Chappelle: The Closer (2021 TV Special)

"And now we get to the core of the crisis."

[8/10 · 12 October 2021]

Right up front, I'm not a Dave Chappelle fan and have not seen any of his prior work. I would not have watched this Netflix special if the current controversy surrounding it were more muted. Having seen it, I'm not sure whether I'd go back to watch any of his other stand-up routines. But here's the thing. The guy had something to say, and he came out and said it. You can call it misogynistic or gay bashing or transphobic, but in the current climate of woke culture, what he's saying needed to be said. And not only that, but to be heard, which is more of an issue I think, than accusing the guy of things that he is not. He backs up everything he talked about with real life examples in which he had to confront hostile or negative people responding to his brand of humor. And even when he spells it out in plain English, you still have folks who either intentionally misinterpret or downright refuse to accept what he has to say. I'm not going to proclaim him some kind of hero for 'The Closer', but I think it took at least a small amount of courage to present this show the way he did. In the end, I think he offered some pretty profound stuff in his own inimitable fashion, and all you have to do is take a breath and listen.