Netflix Is Getting a Lot of Backlash From Employees Over This New Show

The new Netflix comedy special Dave Chappelle: The Closer is under fire for anti-trans comments.

In The Closer, Chappelle claims that "gender is a fact" and says, "Team TERF!" which stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. Chappelle brought up this term when speaking about Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling, who has been called a "TERF" after making offensive comments about trans people of her own.

Chappelle also talks about gay people in the special, saying, "In our country, you can shoot and kill a n*****, but you better not hurt a gay person's feelings," in reference to rapper DaBaby, who came under fire for the latter, but was previously involved in a fight at a North Carolina Walmart during which someone was shot and killed.

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Netflix employees have spoken out against the decision to release Chappelle's special.

As reported by Insider, some Netflix employees have spoken out against the special on social media. One trans employee wrote, "I work at @netflix. Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness—all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups." The employee then went on to list the numerous trans people who have been killed this year.

Another Netflix employee posted, "I didn't expect my job to include supporting the platforming of hate speech when I woke up today, yet here we are."

Jaclyn Moore, an executive producer of the Netflix series Dear White People, wrote that she will no longer be working with the company as a result of The Closer. "I told the story of my transition for @netflix and @most's Pride week," Moore tweeted. "It's a network that's been my home on @DearWhitePeople. I've loved working there. I will not work with them as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content."

Multiple LGBTQIA organizations have condemned Chapelle and Netflix for airing the special.

On Oct. 6, GLAAD tweeted, "Dave Chappelle's brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities. Negative reviews and viewers loudly condemning his latest special is a message to the industry that audiences don't support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree."

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), which supports the rights of Black LGBTQIA people, also commented. On Oct. 6, NBJC executive director David Johns told Variety in a statement, "With 2021 on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States—the majority of whom are Black transgender people—Netflix should know better. Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence. Netflix should immediately pull The Closer from its platform and directly apologize to the transgender community."

Chappelle ended his special saying he wouldn't make jokes about the LGBTQIA community anymore, but he hasn't commented on the backlash.

The Closer is Chappelle's sixth comedy special with Netflix and marks the end his deal with the streaming service. At the end of the special, Chappelle says that he is now done with jokes about LGBTQIA people and that he is a supporter of the community. He also talks about his late trans friend, comedian Daphne Dorman, and says that he is done with LGBTQIA jokes "until we are both sure that we are laughing together." He adds, "I’m telling you, it’s done. I’m done talking about it. All I ask of your community, with all humility: Will you please stop punching down on my people."

Best Life reached out to Netflix and a representative for Chappelle for further comment on the backlash, but did not yet receive a response.

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