|
The event, originally scheduled for November
23, has now been moved to April 22, the educational institution
said in a statement on Friday.
Chappelle's latest Netflix comedy special, "The Closer," was
criticized by some who saw it as a ridicule of transgender
people. Supporters of the comedian
https://www.reuters.com/
world/us/comedian-dave-chappelle-addresses-netflix-transgender-controversy-full-first-2021-10-25
viewed it as a cry against cancel culture.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos had acknowledged
Chappelle's provocative language in "The Closer" but said
earlier that it did not cross the line into inciting violence.
"Dave is an artist and activist and applauds the school taking
time to develop creative and critical thinkers," Carla Sims, a
representative for Chappelle, told the Washington Post on
Friday. "He supports the school and any effort to contribute to
open conversations vs. cancellations."
In its statement, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts
described Chappelle as its "most distinguished alumni" and "an
important thought leader", adding the comedian has personally
donated or raised millions of dollars to address the school's
under-funding.
"The Closer - the most watched comedy special in Netflix's
history, which has garnered a 96% audience rating on Rotten
Tomatoes - has sparked a national debate around race, gender,
sexuality and 'cancel culture'", the school said.
"We also believe moving forward with the event, originally
scheduled for November 23, 2021, without first addressing
questions and concerns from members of the Ellington community,
would be a missed opportunity for a teachable moment," it added.
The institution said it recognized not everyone will accept or
welcome an artist's point of view, but added it rejected the
notion that a "cancel culture" is healthy or constructive.
Last month, dozens of people protested near the streaming
company's headquarters over Chappelle's latest Netflix special.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln
Feast.)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content
|
|
