Dave Chappelle talked about the recent cases of sexual assault and harassment cases in Hollywood in his comedy special The Bird Revelation and admitted that the complaints against his friend Louis C.K. stood out because he found them hilarious.
In the comedy special that premiered New Year's Eve on Netflix, Chappelle talked about the string of allegations against some of the popular personalities in Hollywood. He addressed the accusations against actor Kevin Spacey and on Harvey Weinstein.
Chappelle later talked about the sexual misconduct allegations filed against his fellow comedian C.K. He admitted that the complaints filed against his friend stood out among the rest, because the allegations were the only ones that made him laugh. Chappelle then cracked uncontrollably as he imagined C.K's friends reading the detailed complaints on paper. Regardless, he acknowledged that it is terrible to make jokes about the situation.
"I'm sorry, ladies, you're right. You are right. At the same time, you know what I mean, I mean, Jesus Christ, I don't know, they took everything from Louis, it might be disproportionate, I can't tell, I can't tell, this is like where it's hard to be a man," Chappelle said.
The stand-up comedian then cited one of C.K's accusers and said the woman has a "brittle-a** spirit." He responded to the victim and former comedian Abby Schachner's revelations that in 2003, C.K. masturbated while on the phone with her. Schachner said that C.K.'s actions were one of the things that demotivated her from pursuing comedy. Chappelle added that the comedian ruined Schachner's comedy dreams.
"Word? Well then I dare say, madam, you may have never had a dream. Come on, man, that's a brittle spirit. That is a brittle-a** spirit, that is too much, this grown-a** woman," Chappelle said of Schachner.
The comedian continued to talk about Schachner and said that she could have hang up the phone. Chappelle then wondered how Schachner is going to survive in show business if she finds C.K's actions as an actual obstacle to her dreams.
Chappelle's comedy special aired following an expose in November alleging that C.K. masturbated in front of women without their consent. C.K. issued a statement soon after and admitted that the allegations are true. He admitted that he used his power over the women and C.K. apologized for his past sexual misconduct.
"I have been remorseful of my actions. And I've tried to learn from them," C.K. wrote as part of his lengthy statement published by the New York Times.
