Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special, “The Closer.” (Screenshot via YouTube)
Dave Chappelle’s 2021 special “The Closer” which included anti-transgender comments, was nominated for best variety special (pre-recorded) and directing for a variety special at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
Netflix ran into a buzz-saw of criticism not only with the special but in how internal memos responded to employees’ concerns. Netflix employees at one point walked out in protest.
But co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote that Netflix doesn’t allow titles that are “designed to incite hate or violence, and we don’t believe ‘The Closer’ crosses that line.”
Critics said that while the streaming service offers positive fare for the LGBTQ community, Netflix is having it both ways by also offering a show like Chappelle’s that includes disparaging comments about trans women.
Several trans rights advocates took to social media to question why Chappelle’s anti-trans special received recognition from the television academy, calling the nominations “disgusting” and “crushing.” One Twitter even drew attention to the fact that Netflix posted the Chappelle’s transphobic special right next to “Queer Eye” as a part of its Emmy nomination collection on the app.
Of course @netflix would put Queer Eye right next to transphobic Dave Chappelle in their Emmy Collection 😒 pic.twitter.com/P400qVyGEn
— Koalite 🐨 (@MishkiTongue) July 14, 2022
Chappelle’s “The Closer” goes up against “Adele: One Night Only,” “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special,” and “One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga” in the best variety special (pre-recorded) category and “Adele: One Night Only,” “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel,” “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special” and The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar And 50 Cent in the directing for a variety special category.
The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on NBC Sept. 12.
