American stand-up comedian Patton Oswalt has responded to criticism for performing with comedian Dave Chappelle on New Year’s Eve.
On Friday, Patton Oswalt shared on social media that after finishing his standup show at McCaw Hall in the Seattle Center, he got a text from his friend of over 30 years — Chappelle who asked him to come to the nearby Climate Pledge Arena and be a last-minute part of his Dave Chappelle and Friends show. Oswalt expressed that he did and faced backlash for it amid Chappelle’s Netflix transgender controversy.
“I saw a friend I had not seen in a long time this New Year’s Eve,” Oswalt wrote on his Instagram account. He continued, “We’ve known each other since we’re teens. He’s a fellow comedian, the funniest I’ve ever met. I wanted to post a pic & an IG story about it — so I did. The friend is Dave Chappelle. Thirty four YEARS we’ve been friends.”
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“We also 100% disagree about transgender rights & representation,” Oswalt wrote. “I support trans peoples’ rights — ANYONE’S rights — to live safely in the world as their fullest selves. For all the things he’s helped ME evolve on, I’ll always disagree with where he stands NOW on transgender issues. But I also don’t believe a seeker like him is done evolving, learning. You know someone that long, see the struggles and changes, it’s impossible to cut them off. Impossible not to be hopeful and open and cheer them on.”
