Dave Chappelle Doesn’t Like His Trans Jokes Being “Weaponized” By GOP

After facing years of backlash for his ongoing jokes at the expense of transgender people, Dave Chappelle is attempting to separate himself from anti-trans politicians.

The 5x Emmy-winning comedian recently claimed that he’s been the victim of “rage baiting” headlines about his trans jokes in several of his standup specials, explaining they aren’t meant as “malicious or even harmful.”

“I did resent that the Republican Party ran on transgender jokes,” he explained on NPR’s Newsmakers podcast. “You know, I felt like they were doing a weaponized version of what I was doing. That’s not what I was doing.”

Chappelle used Rep. Lauren Boebert’s 2023 post as an example, after she posted a photo with the comedian and another Republican, writing, “Just three people who understand that there’s only two genders.”

“I didn’t want to say no in front of everybody, but I didn’t know the phrase ‘I respectfully decline,’” said Chappelle. “So I just took the picture. And then she posted the picture before I could even get from there to the show … Just instantly, weaponized or politicized. So I got to the arena, and I lit her ass up for doing that. And she should never do that to a person like me.”

Previously facing backlash for his trans jokes in his Netflix standup specials like Sticks & Stones (2019), The Closer (2021) and The Dreamer (2023), Chappelle claimed that his jokes aren’t intended to harm the trans community.

“I don’t feel like anything I do is malicious or even harmful,” added Chappelle. “And I think if I did hurt somebody with my work, boy, they would have been laid that at my feet. I’m just not doing that.”