SNL writers ‘boycotting Dave Chappelle episode over transphobic jokes’
Dave Chappelle will host SNL on Saturday. (Getty)
SNL writers are reportedly boycotting the upcoming Saturday Night Live (SNL) episode to be hosted by Dave Chappelle.
Fury was sparked among LGBTQ+ viewers after SNL announced Chappelle would be returning to the show for a third time, despite his recent record of transphobic jokes.
According to Page Six, a source said some staff writers are “not going to do the show, but none of the actors are boycotting”.
At the time of the announcement SNL writer Celeste Yim reportedly took to Instagram stories to write: “I am trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.”
Since then they have not made any further statement and it is not clear if they are involved in the reported boycott. PinkNews has reached out to Yim for comment.
Chappelle’s representative told Page Six that in a meeting with writers and producers on Tuesday (8 Nov) “there was no evidence of a boycott”.
They continued: “The room was full of writers. They all pitched ideas and they seemed very excited about it…. Dave is looking to have some fun.”
Read-thru with Dave Chappelle! pic.twitter.com/ahD20bfwEi— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 10, 2022
The decision to have Dave Chappelle host Saturday Night Live comes after the show welcomed its first ever non-binary cast member, Molly Kearney.
This would not be the first time Chappelle has faced boycotts. In October 2021, Netflix employees staged a walk out over his comedy special, The Closer, which contains transphobic material.
They held a rally to “underscore the importance of responsible content offerings that prioritise the safety and dignity of all marginalised communities.”
Netflix also released a speech by Chappelle in July where he called students at a school he visited “instruments of oppression” for calling out his transphobia.
Dave Chappelle previously hosted SNL after the 2016 and 2020 US elections and this time round will be joined by musical duo Black Star.
