Forget about being toned down, because Dave Chappelle’s new stand-up special, The Dreamer, is anything but!
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Dave Chappelle in ‘The Dreamer’
Mathieu Bitton/Netflix
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Chappelle’s first full-length stand-up special in two years shows a different side of the provocative comedian.
On Sunday, the controversial comedian returned to Netflix with The Dreamer, a compelling and diverse performance that hits on a broader array of topics than his last couple of Netflix efforts.
The Dreamer plays more like a traditional comedy special than 2021’s ultra-controversial The Closer yet still pushes boundaries. One lengthy bit in the new special is about paraplegic former North Carolina Republican representative Madison Cawthorn, and at one point, Chappelle declares, “I love punching down!”
Chappelle takes a different stance with an assertion that he was not going to make fun of the trans community anymore, but still finds himself taking a few shots.
New and fresh topics include Will Smith’s infamous Oscar moment and Chappelle’s own onstage attack at the Hollywood Bowl in 2022.
The Dreamer was shot in Chappelle’s hometown of Washington, DC at the historic Lincoln Theatre and directed by Emmy-winner Stan Lathan.
Chappelle’s last two specials, 2019’s Sticks & Stones and The Closer, have resulted in major critical blowback for Netflix, particularly due to the comedian’s comments about the transgender community.
