On Saturday, the night before New Year's Eve, Netflix dropped a bomb on everyone with these two tweets:
Filmed in secret last month, in front of just 50 people. The Bird Revelation, one of two new Chappelle stand-up specials, streams tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/eqpTaENSpR
— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) December 30, 2017
2 new specials from Dave Chappelle will be on Netflix at midnight PT #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/128SKsg5Qc
— Netflix Life (@NetflixLifee) December 31, 2017
And people were so here for it.
was gonna watch Black Mirror.
— Uncle Shoes (@HouseShoes) December 31, 2017
Nope.
Chappelle.
Just watched the first of the two new Dave Chappelle @NetflixANZ specials. The dude is a comedy genius and the end of Equanimity is something to behold. #DaveChappelle #Netflix #Equanimity
— Richard Hyde (@fake_rwhyde) December 31, 2017
SOUTH AFRICA GOT A SHOUT OUT FROM CHAPPELLE IN HIS SPECIAL THE BIRD REVELATION. GOD IS GREAT
— Simmi Areff (@simmiareff) December 31, 2017
Up at 7AM watching this final Chappelle Netflix special. Dedication.
— Cole Clugston (@ColeMichaelllll) December 31, 2017
But not everyone was feeling it. After getting into hot water with his first Netflix special when he made insensitive jokes centered on trans women of color -- who are the most likely group of people to experience violence and murder in the United States -- it appears that Chappelle has learned nothing from that experience and continues to make similar jokes in his new specials.
Me when Dave Chappelle starts talking about transgender issues in his new special pic.twitter.com/1smrT5rC78
— Gerard Wavy (@JasonDike) December 31, 2017
It feels like he’s tripled down on not getting this, he refuses to accept that black people can be trans too
— Gerard Wavy (@JasonDike) December 31, 2017
Ugh being forced to watch the new Chapelle comedy special on Netflix and listening to my family laugh at the trans jokes breaks my heart. I’m so tired. 😪
— Enbyoncé (@EthanDrawsStuff) January 1, 2018
y’all blow me with that dave chapelle shit. it’s like y’all really don’t understand the difference between laughing with somebody and laughing at somebody. when he makes jokes about race he’s laughing with them. when he talks about trans people he’s ALWAYS laughing at them.
— 無関心 (@kingfredo__) January 1, 2018
Ok Dave chapelle coulda just not mentioned trans people again but he did and it’s awful
— mary kathryn (@hoesferatu) January 1, 2018
I just can't get psyched about Dave Chappelle's new specials. His anti-trans rants were nasty and uncalled for.
— Danielle (@Danilizsky) December 31, 2017
I wish I was more surprised that @netflix said nothing about his remarks, but they're making money, so why bother?#LGBTQ
Can someone tell Dave Chappelle that black trans people exist
— Vomitspit (@MFD00MAVIN) December 31, 2017
Comedians can be dumb - “Chappelle ruminated on the possibility that the only reason America cares about the life and feelings of trans people is because it’s an experience that can be had by white men, and if only women and people of color were transgender, no one would care.” https://t.co/BU7MzSUF6J
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) December 31, 2017
Dave Chappelle's new comedy specials on @netflix had a surprising amount of anti-LGBT material. As someone who is married to a trans person, it was pretty offensive.
— Jonathan™ (@JMillhouse) December 31, 2017
I’m not looking for Dave Chapelle to get everything right. But I’m a BLACK, TRANS person who enjoys his comedy. Why do I have to sit through this shitty “I danced with a trans person once but I ain’t gay” jokes?? Shit isn’t funny.
— Jack Qu'emi (@jackquemi) January 1, 2018