Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, “The Dreamer,” continues his trend of making jokes about transgender people, expanding his comedic focus to include disabled individuals and the LGBTQ+ community.
In this new show, Chappelle doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, starting with a joke about trans people and connecting it to Jim Carrey’s role in “Man on the Moon.”
Chappelle’s approach to humor in “The Dreamer” is similar to his previous specials, where he often delves into sensitive subjects. He tells an elaborate story about meeting Jim Carrey and draws parallels between Carrey’s committed acting in “Man on the Moon” and the trans community. The details of this comparison are revealed in the special, where Chappelle sees similarities in the portrayal and the trans community’s experiences.
Despite promising to stop discussing trans topics, Chappelle continues to make jokes about them throughout the special. He jokes about writing a play featuring a trans woman whose pronoun is “n****” and who dies of loneliness because white liberals don’t know how to talk to her. He also mentions that if he were incarcerated, he’d hope it would be in California, where he could identify as a woman and be imprisoned with females, making a controversial remark about forcing other inmates to “suck this girl dick I got.”
Chappelle’s material also includes jabs at people with disabilities, including a crack at ex-Congressman Madison Cawthorn. He mentions he’d start making fun of them because “they’re not as organized as the gays” and he loves “punching down.”
The special covers more than just these topics, with Chappelle sharing his thoughts on the Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars slap. However, his comments on trans and disabled individuals stand out for their inflammatory nature. He even name-drops Lil Nas X, pondering the rapper’s “dream” of being the gayest gay in the world, sliding down a stripper pole in hell, and performing a lewd act with the devil.
Chappelle’s anti-trans jokes, while potentially offensive, haven’t stirred the same level of controversy as his 2021 special, which focused almost entirely on trans issues. It remains to be seen what the fallout will be once more viewers watch “The Dreamer.”
One topic Chappelle did not address in this special is the Israel-Hamas war, suggesting that the special was filmed before these events. As always, Chappelle’s approach to comedy continues to push boundaries and spark debate.
