In a candid interview with Esquire, Jerrod Carmichael, star of “The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show,” delves into his interactions with fellow comedian Dave Chappelle, particularly regarding Chappelle’s controversial anti-trans jokes in “The Closer.
Constructive Criticism from Carmichael
Carmichael initially raised concerns about Chappelle’s comedic approach in a 2022 interview with GQ, questioning the legacy Chappelle was creating with his anti-trans material.
Chappelle, do you know what comes up when you Google your name, bro? That’s the legacy?
Chappelle’s response to Carmichael’s critique, referring to Carmichael’s stand-up special “Rothaniel” as “the bravest special for 1996,” left an impression on Carmichael. Reflecting on this, Carmichael noted,
It’s like, that’s a funny enough line, whatever, but I wonder if he gets the irony that the fact that you are mocking it even then is why it was hard.
Personal Struggles and Comedy
Throughout his career, Carmichael has grappled with his own sexuality, as explored in his work. He revealed allowing his Christian mother to pray to “take the desire” away and highlighted the prevalence of gay jokes in comedy. Carmichael expressed concern about the impact of such humour, stating
As long as people continue to laugh at it and mock it, and as long as it’s a punchline, it’s going to be scary for somebody. It’s scary for me.
Carmichael clarified that his remarks about Chappelle were intended as constructive criticism, acknowledging Chappelle’s intelligence and depth. He emphasised that Chappelle’s reaction was not what he expected, describing Chappelle as an “egomaniac” who sought a public apology for the comments.
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