Dave Chappelle’s alma mater renamed its performing theatre in his honor, months after he was heckled by students
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Comedian Dave Chappelle’s alma mater is paying a tribute to him by renaming a building in his honor.
His honor comes just months after he was heckled by students on campus amid his transgender controversy.
Here is everything you need to know.
Dave Chappelle to be honored at his alma mater after he was heckled at the same
Dave Chappelle’s alma mater, Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. is slated to rename its theater after the comedian.
The institution has mentioned that they are honoring their most noted alumni due to his ‘ongoing commitment and service to the school.’
Chappelle came under fire last year after he made comments about the transgender people while filming for his Netflix comedy special The Closer.
One of his remarks stated that ‘gender is a fact’ which led the trans community to blast his comedy special.
Moreover, the controversial show caused a mass uproar on social media including a protest urged by Netflix staff members.
When Chappelle’s former school announced their decision to rename their theatre in honor of their famous graduate, students were not impressed.
Regardless, Chappelle was not deterred by it. He launched a fundraising challenge. He asked both his supporters and his opponents to raise money for the school.
The 48-year-old also claimed that if his opponents raised more money then he will wholeheartedly forgo the honor of having the building named after him.
With the results that have panned out, Chappelle’s supporters raised more money. So the building will soon be called the Dave Chappelle Theatre.
Students heckle Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle visited his old school back in November 2021 while he was still taking the heat for his jokes about the transgender community.
Politico Playbook reported that during an assembly with around 580 students, one member spoke up and described Chappelle as a bigot. The same pupil added, ‘I’m 16 and I think you’re childish.’
The stand-up comedian responded to the student by saying that ‘with all due respect, I don’t believe you could make one of the decisions I have to make on a given day.’
The statement however disappointed some students who were hoping for some sort of apology from Chappelle.
Another student said, ‘Your comedy kills.’
Chappelle made things worse by chiming back, ‘N****s are killed every day. The media’s not here, right?’
Furthermore, the students staged a protest in the fall of last year to reverse the facility’s decision.
