Members of the audience at a recent Dave Chappelle show walked out following his remarks about Israel’s actions in Gaza and his support for students expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
Reports indicate that during the performance, some in the audience shouted “Free Palestine” in response to Chappelle’s comments. Others yelled “What about Hamas?” before eventually walking out of the show.
The exchange with the audience occurred when Chappelle declared that students should not lose their jobs over supporting Palestinians. A member of the audience responded with “shut up,” prompting further comments from Chappelle about Israel.
The comedian also condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel and accused the U.S. of contributing to the harm of innocent civilians.
It’s worth noting that recently, three law students from Harvard and Columbia universities had their job offers revoked by a prominent law firm in New York City, Davis Polk & Wardwell, after they signed letters expressing support for Hamas in the wake of their attacks on Israel. The firm stated that the content of the letters conflicted with its values and commitment to providing a safe and inclusive work environment for its employees.
Chappelle has previously stirred controversy with his comments during performances, and this instance adds to the ongoing debate surrounding issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.