In light of the recent controversy between Netflix employees and comedian Dave Chappelle, reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner has decided to throw in her two cents. Apparently, she agrees with Chappelle’s sentiments towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community expressed during his recent Netflix special, The Closer.
In the special, Chappelle expressed offensive beliefs towards the LGBTQIA+ community that included but were not limited to the normalization of purposefully misgendering individuals as well as the identification as a TERF (trans-exclusionary radically feminist) by holding onto the notion that transgender women are not real women.
Naturally, these statements caused outrage, with many calling for the removal of the special as well as an apology from Chappelle. But when both of these opportunities to rectify mistakes were not done by Chappelle nor Netflix, the LGBTQIA+ community swiftly expressed their frustrations and banded together to take a stand.
Why is Caitlyn Jenner defending Dave Chappelle?
According to US Weekly, Caitlyn Jenner has decided to defend Chappelle solely because she doesn’t agree with the way the public has tried to “silence free speech.”
To show her support for Chappelle, Jenner took to Twitter to post a video where Chappelle called out the “hypocrisy” of Netflix workers not wanting him at the office because of the controversy but also calling for a safe work environment for themselves.
The video was accompanied by Jenner’s belief that the comedian was “100% right” and reframed the controversy as one that doesn’t concern the LGBTQIA+ community, but one that concerns the current climate of cancel culture.
Dave Chappelle is 100% right. This isn’t about the LGBTQ movement. It’s about woke cancel culture run amok, trying to silence free speech.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) October 26, 2021
We must never yield or bow to those who wish to stop us from speaking our minds. pic.twitter.com/Nklalj6h5Y
Following the tweet, commenters were furious about Jenner’s take, especially given the fact that Jenner is a transgender woman. Many believed she should be upset at the comments made by Chappelle that, without a doubt, were directed at her and people like her.
“Literally, who asked you? You don’t speak for me or ANY other trans folx I know,” one reply stated. “You’re wrong in trying to tell us it’s not about our community. He specifically said it was. Caitlyn, you need to soul search.”
Another reply held the same sentiments as the previous comment, stating, “Calling people out for what they say is not silencing anyone. Anyone can say whatever they want, they just have to live with the consequences of what they say.”
Many of these comments seem to have taken a stance against Jenner’s tweet and are calling for the former Keeping Up With the Kardashians star to refrain from giving her opinion in conversations about the LGBTQIA+ community if she’s going to support something so offensive.
Caitlyn Jenner has yet to respond to the current frustrations directed at her but once or if she does, we will be sure to let you know.