Dave Chappelle has released a new Netflix special, The Dreamer, which is full of jokes about the trans community and disabled people.

“I love punching down!” he tells the audience, in a one-hour show that landed on the streaming service today (31 December).

It’s his seventh special for Netflix and comes two years after his last one, the highly controversial release The Closer.

That programme was criticised for its relentless jokes about the trans community, and Chappelle revisits the topic in his new show.

He tells jokes about trans women in prison, and about trans people “pretending” to be somebody they are not.

  • Jayb151@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    11 months ago

    “talk about lack of perspective”

    Just a heads up, punching down is a term used in the comedy world. It’s more like, telling a dumb joke that’s easy. It’s an easy win that most people will laugh at, rather than creating humor using actual skill.

    • KoboldCoterie@pawb.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      52
      ·
      11 months ago

      Just a heads up, ‘punching down’ means ‘To attack or criticize someone in a less powerful position’. That’s the definition. It’s not limited to the comedy world.

      • WarmSoda@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        11 months ago

        No it’s not limited to it, but Chappelle is deeply part of the comedy world. That’s where he would be using the term from.

        • blind3rdeye@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          11 months ago

          and yet in comedy it still refers to attacking people in a less powerful position. It has nothing to do with jokes being easy or dumb.

          • WarmSoda@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            11 months ago

            I misread somehow, you’re absolutely right.

            Maybe the other person is thinking of low hanging fruit.