John Mulaney and Dave Chappelle are being criticized after Chapelle reportedly told transphobic jokes while opening Mulaney's show in Ohio
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Samir Hussein/WireImage
- John Mulaney and Dave Chappelle are being criticized after Chappelle reportedly told transphobic jokes at Mulaney's show.
- Twitter users who were at the show in Ohio Friday reported that Chappelle was a surprise opener.
- Chappelle has been criticized in the past for his controversial jokes about the trans community.
Comedians John Mulaney and Dave Chappelle are being criticized online after Chapelle reportedly told transphobic jokes while opening Mulaney's show on Friday.
Variety reports that Chappelle was the surprise opener during Mulaney's "From Scratch" tour performance at Ohio State University's Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. According to the outlet, audience members were required to lock their phones during the show, but some attendees shared what happened afterward.
One Twitter user wrote that Mulaney came out and hugged Chappelle after Chappelle told jokes about the transgender community during his set.
—rylan ☻ (@testosteronejew) May 21, 2022
Another Twitter user, who said in their tweet that they identify as transgender, said many people in the audience laughed at one of Chappelle's jokes.
—rae (spookiest version) (@raegan_givant) May 21, 2022
Others expressed their surprise that John Mulaney, who is known for staying away from controversial content in his comedy, brought Chappelle to the show.
—sappho marx (@Peepoposoft) May 21, 2022
Representatives for Mulaney and Chappelle did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Following news of Chappelle's set of Mulaney's show, other comedians responded to the incident on Twitter. Comedian Kyle Kinane wrote that Dave Chappelle wouldn't be at any of his shows "if that's what was stopping you from buying tickets."
—Kyle Kinane (Charlotte NC 6/2-4) (@kylekinane) May 21, 2022
Chappelle has been criticized in the past for his jokes about transgender people. Insider's Canela Lòpez reported in 2021 that Chappelle defended J.K. Rowling over her comments about the trans community in his Netflix comedy special "The Closer." Variety also states that Chappelle also drew controversy for anti-trans jokes his 2019 Netflix special "Sticks and Stones."