On SNL, Chappelle Has Some Advice for Kanye

Dave Chappelle hosted Saturday Night Live, and his critics who boycotted the show may be interested to learn he made no trans jokes. In his monologue, however, the comedian did have plenty to say about the controversy swirling around Ye—formerly Kanye West—and NBA star Kyrie Irving over antisemitism.

• “Before I start tonight, I wanted to read a brief statement that I prepared: ‘I renounce antisemitism in all its forms, and stand with my friends in the Jewish community,'" he said, per Variety. "And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”

• “I’ve been to Hollywood and this is just what I saw: It’s a lot of Jews, like a lot. But that doesn’t mean anything. There’s a lot of Black people in Ferguson, Missouri, but that doesn’t mean we run the place.”
• Chappelle said he could see how Ye would “adopt the delusion that the Jews run show business,” adding that it’s “not a crazy thing to think—but it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this," per CNN.
• While he didn't directly address his own controversy, Chappelle said that “it shouldn’t be this scary to talk about anything—it makes my job incredibly difficult.” He concluded: “I hope they don’t take anything away from me,” before pausing to add, “Whoever they are.”

(More Dave Chappelle stories.)