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Watch Dave Chappelle Talk About George Floyd's Death & More In Surprise Special “8:46”
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 12, 2020
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 12, 2020
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Dave Chappelle surprise-released a 27-minute Netflix special today called “8:46,” which you can now stream below. The title has a twin significance for Chappelle: it's the time he was born, listed on his birth certificate, and it's the length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee against George Floyd’s neck, ultimately killing him.
Chappelle has rightfully been criticized in recent years for his transphobic jokes, particularly in some of his numerous recent Netflix specials, but he remains one of the most righteous, thoughtful, funny, and thundering storytellers and voices on race relations in this country–and he is in full command of his gifts in this new standup piece.
The special was recorded only last week, on June 6th in Yellow Springs, Ohio—with social distancing guidelines in place for the audience. Chappelle includes a notable disclaimer for viewers: "Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand."
Like most of us, he's still processing what has happened over the last few weeks in the country, as well as the last few months, and how it connects with a longer narrative about America and how it treats its Black citizens. But unlike many of us, Chappelle can speak with a passion, clarity and empathy on the subject that is truly exceptional.
On the subject of Floyd's murder, Chappelle is furious and unrelenting: "This man kneeled on a man's neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, can you imagine that? This kid thought he was going to die, he knew he was going to die. He called for his mother, he called for his dead mother. I've only seen that once before in my life: my father, on his death bed, called for his grandmother. When I watched that tape, I understood this man knew he was going to die."
"People watched it, people filmed it, and for some reason that I still don't understand, all these fucking police had their hands in their pockets," he said. "Who are you talking to? What are you signifying? That you can kneel on a man's neck for eight minute and forty-six seconds and feel like you wouldn't get the wrath of God. That's what is happening right now. It's not for a single cop. It's for all of it."
Chappelle touches on the protests, the disconnect between cops and demonstrators, the murder of Eric Garner, his dislike of conservative commentator Candace Owens and Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Kobe Bryant's death, and the calls for celebrities to speak out right now: "[They say] why isn't Dave Chappelle saying anything? Because David Chappelle understands what the fuck he is seeing, and these streets will speak for themselves whether I'm alive or dead. I trust you guys."
Watch it in full below. [Note: Chappelle uses the n-word in his special.]
Tagged
comedy
dave chappelle
George Floyd
netflix
television
tv
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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