Minneapolis venue cancels Dave Chappelle show after backlash: 'We hear you'

Emily DeLetter, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
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Dave Chappelle performs during a theater dedication ceremony honoring the comedian and actor, and to raise funds to support Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, Monday, June. 20, 2022.
Dave Chappelle performs during a theater dedication ceremony honoring the comedian and actor, and to raise funds to support Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, Monday, June. 20, 2022.
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After online backlash and a petition circulated, a Minneapolis venue canceled a Dave Chappelle show on Wednesday.

First Avenue canceled Chappelle's show, which is now moving to the Varsity Theater also in Minneapolis. The venue posted a statement online, saying "we hear you."

A Change.org petition gathered over 120 signatures, calling for First Avenue to cancel the show because of Chapelle's remarks about transgender people.

"Dave Chappelle has a record of being dangerous to trans people, and First Avenue has a duty to protect the community," the petition reads. "Chappelle's actions uphold a violent heteronormative culture and directly violate First Avenue's code of conduct. If staff and guests are held to this standard, performers should be too."

In part of its statement, First Avenue wrote, "We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, but in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact this would have. We know there are some who will not agree with this decision; you are welcome to send feedback."

Carla Sims, Chappelle's publicist, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chappelle lives in Yellow Springs, a small village outside of Dayton. In 2021, he faced backlash and criticism for his Netflix special "The Closer," in which he made comments about the transgender community that prompted a walkout by some Netflix employees.

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Following "The Closer" backlash, Chappelle responded at a show in Des Moines, Iowa in November by saying when he has met LGBTQ people in real life versus online, fewer, if any had expressed the level of outrage he received on Twitter.

"Boy, I went too far with 'The Closer,'" Chappelle said in November. "The trans always get mad, but this time I did it."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dave Chappelle show in Minneapolis canceled, moved after backlash