Dave Chappelle Addresses Trans Community: I Won't Be 'Bending To Anyone's Demands'

Comedian Dave Chappelle has a clear message for the pissed-off trans community that is using every trick in the cancellation playbook to run the guy out of show business. In a video posted Monday by Chappelle from a recent show in front of a live audience, the comedian had a few things to say about the hysteria over his most recent Netflix special titled "The Closer."

In this new upcoming documentary titled "Untitled," Chappelle jumps right into battle with the trans community.

"It's been said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused," Chappelle says. "That is not true. If they had invited me, I would have accepted it. Although I am confused about what we're speaking about. I said what I said and boy I heard what you said."

"You said you wanted a safe working environment at Netflix. Well, it seems like I'm the only one who can't go into the office anymore," he joked, before adding, "To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anyone's demands.

"And if you want to meet with me, I am more than willing to, but I have some conditions."

"First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny."

Gadsby is an Australian comedian who has been an outspoken critic of Chappelle and called Netflix an "amoral algorithm cult."

"Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, he's the only one that didn't cancel me yet," Chappelle added in the video.

While Netflix is standing behind Chappelle, there's news that distributors of his "Untitled" documentary have been pulling it from film festivals. So instead of worrying about dealing with film festivals and the organizers, filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar will take the documentary on a 10-city tour starting November 4 in San Francisco.

“I desperately want people to see this movie, but I understand why investors would be nervous,” Chappelle noted. 

“You will be able to see this movie in its entirety and you can see what they’re trying to obstruct you from seeing and you can judge for yourself.”