Irony died during Monday's edition of At This Hour on CNN as guest host Boris Sanchez and "transgender D.J. and actress" Lina Bradford urged viewers to reconsider their Netflix subscriptions in the aftermath of Dave Chappelle's latest comedy show, where he took on cancel culture and woke gender theory.
Sanchez kicked off the segment declaring Chappelle's show to be full of "insulting and insensitive jokes about transgender people." He then played a clip that supposedly illustrated such insensitivity where Chapelle defended J.K. Rowling, "I'm Team TERF [trans-exclusionary radical feminist]. I agree. I agree man, gender is a fact."
According to CNN's chyron, this was "no laughing matter," something Sanchez emphasized by pointing out that "We should note, today is National Coming Out Day." He then introduced Bradford and reported that Netflix did not provide a comment to CNN about the show, so he wondered "What do you want to tell them? What do you want them to do?"
Bradford tried to say Netflix was being hypocritical in choosing to Chappelle's show "Well, you know, Netflix, it's interesting that they have no comment, when you know, it's certainly okay for them to accept gay coin and have gay content and yet not be accountable for, you know, this display what we're seeing, you know."
Chappelle, according to Bradford, was also not being a good intersectional team player, "So, you know, that's just one clip that you could show because there's so many that are just so harmful, and it’s just like, especially as a black man, you know, we have to really have to be kind of be a united front when we have everybody else coming at us, so why does it have to continue to be in your dialogue to not only rip in, but it's harmful what you do."
Later in the segment, Sanchez tried to tie Chappelle to transgender deaths. "Let's talk about the data and the harm that you're noting because the National Black Justice Coalition says that this year quote 'is on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States and the majority of whom are black transgender people.' What do you think needs to be done to address that," he asked.
Bradford suggested that "people might want to look into where it is you’re getting your content from. You know, don’t go to comedians and maybe not give your money to a conglomerate that's very insensitive to a community, but yet okay to take that coin."
Sanchez concluded by holding out hope that Netflix might be pressured into dropping Chappelle: "And notably, there are several Netflix-affiliated artists that have now boycotted the company over their tacit endorsement of Dave Chappelle"
In his show, Chappelle said that he didn't care if he got dragged on Twitter, "because Twitter is not a real place." In his next show, maybe he can throw in a joke about not caring that CNN was trying to cancel him, because CNN was not a real news organization.
This bit of pro-cancel culture was sponsored by Wayfair.
Here is a transcript for the October 11 show:
CNN
At This Hour With Kate Bolduan
11:48 AM ET
BORIS SANCHEZ: Now to a controversy involving one of the biggest comics in America. Dave Chappelle is facing backlash for once again making insulting and insensitive jokes about transgender people in a new Netflix special. Listen
DAVE CHAPPELLE: Cancel J.K. Rowling, my god. J.K. Rowling wrote all of the Harry Potter books by herself. She sold so many books the Bible worries about her. And they cancelled her because she said in an interview, and this is not exactly what she said but effectually she said gender was a fact, and then the trans community got mad as [ bleep ] and they started coming her a TERF... So, I looked it up. TERF is an acronym. Stands for Trans-exclusionary radical feminist… I’m Team TERF. I agree, I agree man, gender is a fact.
SANCHEZ: Chappelle reveled in the latest firestorm at live shows over the weekend, reportedly suggesting he wants to cancel cancel culture. We should note, today is National Coming Out Day. In a statement President Biden says, quote, “I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know that you're loved and accepted just the way you are, regardless of whether or not you've come out.”Joining us now is Lina Bradford. She's a transgender D.J. and actress and Lina, we're grateful to have you this morning. In a video you posted on Instagram you said, quote, “shame on Netflix.” We asked the company for a statement about the controversy and a spokesman said they -- they don't have any comment. What do you want to tell them? What do you want them to do?
LINA BRADFORD: Well, first of all, good morning, Boris, nice to speak with you this morning on National Coming Out Day, how apropos. Well, you know, Netflix, it's interesting that they have no comment, when you know, it's certainly okay for them to accept gay coin and have gay content and yet not be accountable for, you know, this display what we're seeing, you know. I mean, they knew what the cut was before this even went to, you know, play. So, this isn’t a surprise, this isn’t just something that was happening. They had to see all of this before had. So, you know, that's just one clip that you could show because there's so many that are just so harmful, and it’s just like, especially as a black man, you know, we have to really have to be kind of be a united front when we have everybody else coming at us, so why does it have to continue to be in your dialogue to not only rip in, but it's harmful what you do. Your words, they -- they have accountability. It’s just like, for instance, a Caucasian comment, comedian, you know, who, who constantly be speaking about derogatory things about Afro-American people, you know, it's really is Wimbledon like that, you know, it's kind of back and forth and you've got to be how thoughtful of those things. Trust me. I'm a goofball all day. I love foolishness, but there's a point and especially where we're living today, got to keep it cute and put it on mute when it comes to stuff like that.
SANCHEZ: Lina, he does argue in the special that if his content offends you don't have to watch it and I've also heard the argument that we shouldn't look to comedians for morality, somebody whose job it is to incite an emotional response. What do you make of those arguments?
BRADFORD: I 100% agree to a certain extent. What I do have a problem is, is that, you know, is because we're speaking about Netflix, you know, when there is content of, you know, the LGBTQ+ community, you have to take that into accountability. Listen, we don't need everybody to be on the same page but at the end of the day we kind of do need the respect, and the respect that is not there you can't expect to have that brought back to you if you're not giving it to other people. Like I said, comedians do have a certain pass in a sense but not when it becomes, like, harmful and to also to have, you know, a whole room of people applauding this tomfoolery. Like, the show wasn't even funny. Sorry.
SANCHEZ: Let's talk about the data and the harm that you're noting because the National Black Justice Coalition says that this year quote “is on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States and the majority of whom are black transgender people.” What do you think needs to be done to address that?
BRADFORD: Well, Boris, I mean, you just kind of brought it down in that sentence. You know, when you have a black man speaking on, you know, trans-life that, you know, you really don't know too much about yet you seem to have a lot to say about it, you know, whether it's “funny” or not, it becomes harmful, and that's when, you know, your accountability for your art has to be placed into question. That's where Netflix has to have a comment so, you know, people just -- like you said, people might want to look into where it is you’re getting your content from. You know, don’t go to comedians and maybe not give your money to conglomerate that's very insensitive to a community, but yet okay to take that coin.
SANCHEZ: And notably, there are several Netflix-affiliated artists that have now boycotted the company…BRADFORD: Yeah
SANCHEZ: … over their tacit endorsement of Dave Chappelle. Lina Bradford, we have to leave the conversation there. Appreciate you sharing some time with us.
