*Dave Chappelle sat down with the Associated Press in his hometown Yellow Springs, Ohio, reflecting on his ties to the community and the lasting investments he continues to make there.
The wide-ranging conversation also touched on the controversy that has followed him in recent years, including the backlash surrounding his 2021 Netflix special “The Closer.” The special triggered protests and internal pushback at Netflix over its treatment of transgender people, though Chappelle made clear the noise never penetrated his core fanbase.
“The media used to talk (expletive) about jokes that I did … and none of that stuff swayed my audience,” he said. “So I feel like I need to be true to something.”
Perhaps the most unexpected moment came when Chappelle revealed he is open to revisiting “Chappelle’s Show,” the landmark Comedy Central series that debuted in 2003 and ran for two full seasons before he walked away from production in 2005, with only a handful of third-season episodes making it to air.
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“If you’d asked me that question a year ago, I’d have told you absolutely not,” Chappelle told the AP about reviving the sketch comedy show. “But in the last few weeks … I’m considering it.”
Chappelle also weighed in on how the comedy world has evolved, warning that rapid fame can rob emerging talent of the room to grow. “One of the worst things that can happen to a comedian is becoming successful before they get good,” he said. “Because you miss the part where you get to explore and make mistakes.” Among the newer voices he is watching, he called out Druski as a standout example of where comedy is heading.
Reflecting on his own purpose and legacy, Chappelle said: “Man, I’m a lucky guy… I don’t know if I’m doing that on purpose, but I dreamt of being a famous comedian. Took me 40 years, but I did it. … This is better than I dreamt of.”
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