Legendary comedian Dave Chappelle is set to release a new comedy special on Netflix titled The Closer.
The project is being referred to as “the sixth chapter” and will wrap up a body of work for Chappelle which includes The Age Of Spin, Deep In The Heart Of Texas, Equanimity & The Bird Revelation, and Sticks & Stones.
“Comedians have a responsibility to speak recklessly,” Chappelle says in the trailer for The Closer. “Sometimes the funniest thing to say is mean. I’m not saying it to be mean, I’m saying it to be funny.”
The comedian could be making reference to the fact that some viewers took offence to jokes he made in his 2019 special Sticks and Stones about the Michael Jackson and R. Kelly sexual abuse scandals, as well as for jokes about the LGBTIA+ community and cancel culture.
Regardless of the controversy, Chappelle went on to win three Emmy Awards for the set, in addition to one for 2017’s Equanimity & The Bird Revelation, and two for hosting Saturday Night Live.
Sticks and Stones also earned him his third Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
Chappelle, who is known for his incisive brand of comedy that tackles the issues of racism and social inequality, also released 8:46 through the streamer, on their YouTube channel “Netflix Is a Joke.” The title of the special referred to the length of time George Floyd endured former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his next before he died, sparking Black Lives Matter protests all around the world.
The stand-up signed a massive deal with Netflix in 2016, which saw him earn USD $20million per special under a three special deal. The contract was then extended for a fourth and fifth stand-up exclusive in 2017.
The Closer will debut on Netflix on October 5, 2021. Check out the teaser below.
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