Some “Saturday Night Live” Writers Are Rumored To Be Boycotting This Week’s Show In Protest Of Dave Chappelle Hosting

November 10, 2022 / Posted by:

Because of Dave Chappelle’s history of jokes that many find homophobic and transphobic, he’s since become the festering church fart many make a concerted effort to avoid (or try to swat into dissipation). His last Netflix special, The Closer, drew a great deal of ire and protest when it came out last year; and now Page Six reported that several Saturday Night Live staff writers are sitting out this week’s show as a statement of their disapproval of him being chosen to host. I mean, SNL has been sitting out SNL for about five years as it is, so this Saturday’s episode may be especially devoid of sketches that cause people to make quiet “mmph” sounds through their nostrils in acknowledgment that a joke was just attempted.

Dave has already hosted two times before, but this would be his first time hosting since The Closer, in which several of his jokes focused on the LGBTQ community, and he declared that he was “Team TERF.”  It prompted several Netflix employees to walk out, and now some SNL writers may be saying, “when we leave, come together like butt cheeks” as well–though no cast members have indicated that they’ll be following suit.

We’re told that some staff writers are so furious that the comedy superstar — who has made transphobic and homophobic jokes — has been chosen to helm the iconic show that they’re sitting out the episode.
“They’re not going to do the show,” an insider told Page Six. “But none of the actors are boycotting.”

He last hosted the sketch comedy show in 2020, well before Netflix released his 2021 special “The Closer.” It angered some viewers because many of Chappelle’s jokes were aimed at the trans community. For example, he intentionally misgendered a trans friend and fellow comedian for laughs.

But as far as Dave is concerned, all is well at 30 Rock, and he’s plugging away in the writers’ room trying to concoct something, ANYTHING that may get a 2006-era Dave laugh.

But Chappelle’s rep told us that there was nothing to suggest that there was a boycott when they attended writers’ meetings this week. Chappelle was at 30 Rock on Tuesday meeting with writers and producers and his rep told us “there was no evidence of a boycott.”

“The room was full of writers. They all pitched ideas and they seemed very excited about it…. Dave is looking to have some fun,” they told us.

But one of the SNL writers, who is trans, may have spoken out about it on Instagram:

After the announcement, “SNL” writer Celeste Yim reportedly wrote on Instagram Stories: “I’m trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.”

It is unclear if they are one of the writers boycotting this week’s show or if they were actually referring to Chappelle. They did not get back to us when we reached out.

Meanwhile the show made history when it announced its first out non-binary cast member Molly Kearney back in September. Kearney has not publicly addressed Chappelle’s upcoming show.

Here’s Celeste’s Instagram Story:

And it’s not just the writers who are pissed. Many SNL viewers voiced their disgust and plan to skip the show this week in the comment sections of SNL’s Instagram posts highlighting Dave’s upcoming appearance:

SNL is no stranger to catching shit for its choices of hosts (see: Trump and Elon Musk). Lorne Michaels probably thinks that any kind of attention is good for the show. So prepare for SNL to announce that Mel Gibson will host its Hanukkah episode with musical guest Kanye West.

Pic: BauerGriffin/INSTARimages.com

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