Initial Avenue, well known because the venue featured in Prince’s 1984 movie “Purple Rain, inch declined to web host Chappelle’s comedy show after backlash more than comments in some of his previous Netflix specials that have been belittled as transphobic.
“The Dave Chappelle show tonight at First Avenue has been canceled and is moving to the Varsity Theater, ” First Method writes in an article on its verified Instagram account .
“To personnel, artists, and the community, we hear you and we are i am sorry, ” the declaration reads. “We understand we must hold ourselves to the highest criteria, and we know we all let you down. We have been not just a black box with people in it, and we understand that First Ave is not just a room, yet meaningful beyond our own walls. ”
The statement continues: “The First Avenue group and you have worked hard to make our locations the safest spaces in the country, and we will continue with that mission. We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, however in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact this would possess. We know there are some who will not agree with this decision; you are welcome to send out feedback. ”
Chappelle has made jokes regarding the trans community in sets over the years, but his 2021 Netflix special “The Closer” improved ire among some in the LGBTQ+ community and its particular allies after Chappelle said he has been “team TERF, inch the term for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist. ”
“Gender is a fact, inch Chappelle said throughout the special, which was nominated for 2 Emmy Awards previously this month . “Every human being within this room, every individual on earth, had to move across the legs of the woman to be on the planet. That is a fact. ”
CNN has reached out in order to reps for Chappelle for comment.