Dave Chappelle's 'SNL' Monologue Elicits Backlash from Anti-Defamation League National Director

Mar. 15, 2025

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“We shouldn’t expect@DaveChappelleto serve as society’s moral compass, but disturbing to see@nbcsnlnot just normalize but popularize #antisemitism,” he wrote. “Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma trigger applause?”

Others joined in to express concern and share their analysis of Chappelle’s monologue. InfluencerRabbi Josh Yuterwrote that “the key point” of the monologue was that “there are double standards regarding who can say what about whom.”

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Nonprofit outletThe Forwardhas since pointed out more criticism —TheJerusalem Postcalled it"engaging in antisemitic tropes," whileAdam FeldmanofTime Out New Yorksaid the opener “probably did more to normalize anti-Semitism than anything Kanye said.”

“What I do know, is that one of comedy’s boldest and most incisive voices had a chance to lend insight to the long struggle Black America has had with antisemitism. But instead, his monologue seemed filled with justification and minimization — failing to mention, for instance, allegations that Ye hasexpressed admirationfor Nazi leader Adolf Hitler,” hewrote in part.

In his monologue, Chappelle said that there are “two words in the English language that you should never say together in sequence: ‘The’ and ‘Jews.'”

“I’ve been to Hollywood and — no one get mad at me — I’m just telling you what I saw,” he said. “It’s a lot of Jews. Like a lot. But that doesn’t mean anything! You know what I mean? Because there are a lot of Black people in Ferguson, Missouri, it doesn’t mean we run the place.”

Dave Chappelle.Mathieu Bitton/Netflix

Chappelle also said that a “delusion that Jews run show business” is “not a crazy thing to think,” but “it’s a crazy thing to say out loud.”

“It shouldn’t be this scary to talk about anything,” Chappelle said. “It’s making my job incredibly difficult. And to be honest with you, I’m sick of talking to a crowd like this. I love you to death and I thank you for your support. And I hope they don’t take anything away from me… whoever they are.”

Elsewhere, theChappelle Showstar said that West had “broken the show business rules.”

“You know, the rules of perception,” he added. “If they’re Black, then it’s a gang. If they’re Italian, it’s a mob. If they’re Jewish, it’s a coincidence and you should never speak about it.”

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Chappelle was previously been criticized for his 2021 Netflix special,The Closer, in which he made several jokes that targeted the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender people.Members of the LGBTQ+ communityand advocacy groups spoke out in response, as hundreds of Netflix employees walked out of work in protest following its release.

source: people.com