Dave Chappelle has called out Republicans for “weaponizing” transgender jokes following his controversy over making such remarks in his comedy specials.
“I did resent that the Republican Party ran on transgender jokes. You know, I felt like they were doing a weaponized version of what I was doing. That’s not what I was doing,” Chappelle, 52, said on NPR’s “Newsmakers” on Wednesday, April 15.
The comedian then recalled an incident that occurred when he was taking photos with people on Capitol Hill.
“I’ll give you an example. Before I learned the phrase, ‘I respectfully decline,’ I was on Capitol Hill, and everybody ran up to take pictures with me from every congressional office. And I just take pictures with whoever asked. I didn’t ask how they vote or what their voting record is,” he shared.
Chappelle continued, “At first, it was CBC people. Then here comes [U.S. representative] Lauren Boebert [R-Co] and she said, ‘Can I get a picture?’ And I had already taken 40 pictures. I didn’t want to say no in front of everybody, but I didn’t know the phrase ‘I respectfully decline.’ So I just took the picture.”
Chappelle recalled that Boebert, 39, posted the photo with the caption, “Just three people who understand that there’s only two genders.” (Rep. Anna Paulina Luna [R-Fl] was also present in the photo.)
“Just instantly, like, weaponized or politicized,” Chapelle added. “So, I got to the arena [for a comedy show], and I lit her ass up for doing that. And she should never do that to a person like me.”
Chappelle became the subject of controversy in 2021 when his Netflix special, The Closer, included jokes that many viewers criticized as transphobic. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended the jokes as “artistic freedom,” which led to protests from trans employees and allies at the streaming giant.
Despite the backlash, Chappelle doubled down on the jokes in his 2023 special, The Dreamer. Netflix has stood by the Chappelle’s Show star, having released his eighth stand-up special, The Unstoppable, in 2025. However, some comedy clubs have opted to cancel his shows, including Minneapolis’ First Avenue, which canceled Chappelle’s appearance in 2023.
Elsewhere in his NPR interview, Chappelle criticized President Donald Trump when asked if he thinks the former Apprentice host is funny.
“Maybe if he wasn’t president, I’d think that was funny. Or maybe at times … I do think, you know, that that’s wearing thin,” Chappelle said. “There are funny things about him. Like, if I were to talk about him, it would be funny. ButI think what he does is so consequential and so much of these things, you know, in my lifetime, I’ve never really seen anything of a phenomenon quite like I’m not trying to be political, but it’s remarkable. I don’t know. I don’t know how funny it is.”
