Dave Chappelle Drops Surprise Stand-up: Talks George Floyd, Lays Into Don Lemon

It’s Dave Chappelle like we’ve never seen before. In a surprise stand-up set, the comedian took on a serious tone exploring the issues of systemic racism, police brutality, and the death of George Floyd, that brought up to this point of civil unrest.

Chappelle took the outdoor stage in Beavercreek, Ohio, with a social-distancing audience donning masks. The crowd may have showed up for laughs, but from the beginning Dave let them know that this wouldn’t be his normal routine. The “Chappelle’s Show” creator opened by speaking out on the agonizing 8 minutes and 46 seconds police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck, murdering him in broad daylight. It’s the reason he titled this stand-up “8:46” and it was the constant theme throughout the show.

Dave eloquently spoke about the anger in the Black community and the powerful protests that have taken over the streets. He also called out a few folks who seem not to get it — “shut up and dribble” spokeswoman Laura Ingraham and right-wing tap dancer Candace Owen both felt the wrath of Chappelle’s anger. But, CNN anchor Don Lemon took the brunt of Dave’s heat. Last week, Lemon called out several Black celebrities for not hitting the streets and using their platforms to fight for justice. Although Don didn’t name Dave, the comedian still took offense saying people don’t give a f**k what celebrities have to say right now … “The streets are speaking for themselves,” Chappelle stated.

The whole set is just under a half an hour. In a note, posted by Netflix, the 46-year-old apologized for the raw, uncharacteristic nature of this stand-up. “From Dave: Normally I wouldn’t show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand,” the statement read. It may not be full of laughs, but it’s exactly the commentary we appreciate from Dave.

Take a look at “8:46” below…