Even if those anti-Chapelle/pro-Brown strawmen existed in meaningful numbers, it wouldn’t change the fact that accusations of hypocrisy are - even when merited - still just argumentum ad hominem, with no bearing on the truth of the  contested claim. It’s not the tactic of someone who has a legitimate counter-argument.

You hope the best for your trans friends and they know what’s in your heart, which is that your right to be amused without a check on your conscience supercedes their right to live with basic dignity. 

His constant framing of this issue as ‘I’m mocking white people so that’s ok’ infuriates me given that the most like to face harm or death as a result of transphobia are black transwomen.

Me neither. I’m not sure what that person’s deal is. Periods are a normal biological process. We’re all adults here (hopefully). It’s time for us to let go of our hangups about the human body.

I’m black. I’ve laughed at white people making jokes at the expense of black people. I’ve laughed at white comedians who have used the n-word.  I’ve laughed at blackface.  None of that means those things aren’t offensive, or that they are okay.  Our experiences are not universal.

the evening at the Hollywood Bowl ended with Chappelle bringing Stevie Wonder on stage to deliver some closing remarks. “What we need to cancel is hate,” THR reports. “What we need to cancel is fear because we have to have love, and we should never cancel that.”

That’s also not been my experience in mixed groups with trans and cis women. Most trans women I know also carry tampons or pads in their purse, both as a “not creating awkward questions” thing and because they regularly get asked if they have spares by someone who is on their period.

Eh, I have complicated feelings regarding Chappelle. I think he’s hilarious. I watched his last Netflix special and (as a gay guy) genuinely enjoyed his bit about the “LGBT car ride.” It’s fine that he makes fun of “the alphabet people” — because the whole thing can at times BE silly. I don’t mind being made fun of…

For example, trans women in our group find cis-periods gross...

What the fuck? Good Lord I hope none of you are parents with a child who will menstruate.

It’s reflexive defensiveness, fairly obviously.

This shit didn’t stop him from being transphobic in the FIRST three specials he did for Netflix, why would it stop him now? Hell, the entire premise of the bit in the first place starts by him receiving a letter from a trans former-fan talking about how hurtful his words are, then proceeding to do longer and longer…

Exactly. I’ve said it here before, but who asked him? If he doesn’t care for trans people just don’t think or talk about them. As far as I know, he doesn’t have any connection to the trans community, so he’s clearly just punching down just to punch down.

We’re doing the “I never thought he was funny, unlike you plebes” thing?

That’s nice. Your experience is not universal, and it’s also by your own admittance not particularly for cis, straight consumption. Your interconnectedness with your coworkers grants an intimacy that can include playful ribbing and that sort of thing, but it’s context-dependent.

Dave Chappelle is not trans. Dave…

Good read, and it definitely hit upon the central question; why die on *this* hill, Dave? What is so different about this issue that he needs to double-down?

An excellent take from a fantastic writer, well worth the read.

Being ‘cancelled’ and ‘cancel culture’ are just euphemisms for ‘being held accountable for something stupid I have said or done’.

The delightful part has been watching people I know explain my existence to me and justify it by telling me about how Dave’s friend is fine with X, so whatever I or others say about our lives is irrelevant. Really adorable.

Dave and his fans/audience would watch transpeople die with glee on their face. They do not give a shit about anything. JK Rowling made an entire career out of it. Why wouldn’t he?

I lost a friend who decided chappelle was worth defending despite the fact knowing me, and what I’ve been through. Like, yep. Of course chappelle’s going to triple down, his audience doesn’t give a shit about trans people.