Dave Chappelle’s new Netflix special, “The Dreamer,” is stirring controversy once again with its jokes targeting transgender people. However, this time he expands his reach to include disabled individuals. While the anti-trans jokes may not be as prominent as in his 2021 special, they are still present throughout the show.
Chappelle kicks off the special by telling an elaborate story about meeting Jim Carrey on the set of “Man on the Moon.” He draws parallels between Carrey’s dedicated portrayal of Andy Kaufman and the transgender community’s commitment to their identity. Although Chappelle promises to stop talking about trans folks after this joke, he continues to make cracks about them throughout the rest of the special.
One of his jokes revolves around writing a play about a trans woman whose pronoun is a racial slur and dies of loneliness because white liberals do not know how to communicate with her. He then goes on to joke about identifying as a woman if he ever gets incarcerated in California, insinuating that he would force other inmates to perform sexual acts on him. These jokes perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to the marginalization of transgender individuals.
Chappelle also takes aim at people with disabilities, including a jab at ex-Congressman Madison Cawthorn. He mentions that he plans to make fun of disabled individuals because they are not as organized as the LGBTQ+ community, expressing his enjoyment in “punching down.” These jokes further perpetuate ableism and create a hostile environment for disabled people.
While Chappelle briefly touches on other topics such as the Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars incident and Lil Nas X, the focus of the special seems to be his exploration of dreams and success. He juxtaposes Lil Nas X’s dream of being openly gay and provocative with his own aspirations. The underlying theme is that anyone can achieve success, regardless of their background or aspirations.
It remains to be seen how the public will react to Chappelle’s new special. While his previous special faced significant backlash for its anti-trans jokes, it is unclear if “The Dreamer” will have a similar impact. However, it is essential to consider the harm caused by these jokes and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
One notable aspect is that Chappelle does not address the Israel-Hamas conflict, which occurred shortly before the special was released. This suggests that the special was filmed before the conflict and does not touch on this significant event.
In conclusion, Dave Chappelle’s new Netflix special, “The Dreamer,” continues his pattern of targeting transgender individuals with jokes. This time, he expands his focus to include disabled people. While the anti-trans jokes may not be the central focus of the special, they contribute to the marginalization of transgender individuals. It remains to be seen how audiences will respond to the controversial content, but it is crucial to recognize the harm caused by these jokes and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
