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Dave Chappelle speaks to former high school amidst transgender controversy

10/27/19 7:02:14 PM -- Washington , DC, U.S.A -- Dave Chappelle arrives at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 in Washington D.C. to receive the Mark Twain Prize in American Humor. -- Photo by Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY staff ORG XMIT: HG 138314 Dave Chappelle g 10/27/2019 (Via OlyDrop) Xxx Hgs 3750 Jpg Usa Dc

Dave Chappelle had a Q&A session at the Duke Ellington School of the arts in Washington D.C. before the students went on their Thanksgiving Break. This was his first Q&A after his transgender controversy, and it did not go well.

Lately, the longtime comedian Chappelle has been in the headlines after he stated, “Gender is a fact.

Chappelle asked the students to stand up and say what was on their minds, and they did just that.

Nearly 600 students sat in on this conversation, some cheering and some booing, but neither side held back their thoughts. One student called Chappelle a “bigot” while also adding, “I’m 16, and I think you’re childish.” Chappelle responded, “My friend, with all due respect, I don’t believe you could make one of the decisions I have to make on a given day.”

The students came in angry and walked away madder than when they came in. A lot of this was due to fuel added to the fire from Chappelle.

“I’m better than every instrumentalist, artist, no matter what art you do in this school, right now, I’m better than all of you. I’m sure that will change. I’m sure you’ll be household names soon.”

Dave Chappelle

One student commented to Chappelle, saying, “Your comedy kills!” when Dave responded, saying, “N****** are killed every day.”

End of the Chappelle assembly

Not everyone at the assembly was out for the blood of Chappelle, but he only allowed the angry kids to speak at the event.

Some students were on the comedians’ side, but others felt Chappelle exploited his power the entire time. Students were intimidated by him, and Chappelle took advantage of that.

The ending of the assembly resulted in all students receiving tickets to his new film. It is unclear if that was enough to make some students forgive him.

A member of Chappelle’s team told Politico, “[Dave Chappelle] said these kids deserve an F for forgiveness. Give them some space to grow. They are going to say things that are immature.”

His former school was set to change the name of their theatre after Chappelle, but the controversy has slowed down these discussions.

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