Dave Chapelle Mocks Kanye West Antisemitism Scandal As SNL Host

• Comic Dave Chapelle delivered an edgy monologue about Kanye West and his recent antisemitic remarks. 
• Kanye recently said on Twitter he was “going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.”
• Chappelle “did more to normalize antisemitism than anything Kanye said,” tweeted Time Out’s New York theater editor.

Comedy superstar Dave Chapelle delivered an edgy monologue about Ye — also known as Kanye West — and his antisemitic rhetoric when he hosted Saturday Night Live.

Hosting SNL for the third time, Chappelle began his appearance by saying, “I wanted to read a statement I prepared,” continuing, “I renounce antisemitism in all its forms and stand with my friends in the Jewish community. And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”

“I learned that there are two words in the English language that you should never say together in sequence. And those words are ‘the’ and ‘Jews.'” Chapelle also joked. 

Kanye West has recently touted a series of antisemitic tropes, tweeting that he is “going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” adding, “I can’t be antisemitic because black people are actually Jew also.”

The tweet continued: “You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

Acknowledging, but not necessarily rejecting, Ye’s recent statements, Chapelle said that he can understand how Kanye would “adopt the delusion that the Jews run show business” and added that “not a crazy thing to think – but it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this.”

In describing his own experiences of Hollywood, Chapelle said, “It’s a lot of Jews. Like, a lot. But that doesn’t mean anything. There’s a lot of Black people in Ferguson, Mo. That doesn’t mean they run the place.”

Chapelle continued, “If they’re Black, it’s a gang. If they’re Italian, it’s a mob. But if they’re Jewish, it’s a coincidence, and you should never speak about it.”

Chapelle’s contentious comments have been met with criticism. Time Out New York theater editor and critic Adam Feldman tweeted that the comedy star had done more to normalize antisemitism than anything Kanye said.

—Adam Feldman (@FeldmanAdam) November 13, 2022

Matt Wilstein, a senior writer at The Daily Beast and host of ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast, wrote: “It was his decision to push the type of antisemitic conspiracies that got West in trouble, albeit through jokes, that stood out and will continue to reverberate.”

Meanwhile, Page Six reported that Chappelle’s latest stint hosting NBC’s Emmy-winning late-night comedy showcase led to a writers’ boycott of the episode due to Chappel’s history of transphobic and homophobic jokes. 

Chapelle’s team denied any boycott, CNN reported.