Dave Chappelles Remarks on Israel Draw Cheers and Walkouts in Boston

In apparently unplanned comments, the comedian waded into the Israel-Hamas war and decried the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, provoking strong reactions at a Boston show.

Dave Chappelle waded briefly into the Israel-Hamas conflict at a show in Boston last week, drawing cheers from some audience members and causing others to walk out as he decried the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the Gaza Strip, according to news reports and a spokeswoman for the comedian.

The set was on Thursday, the first of a pair of shows Mr. Chappelle held at Bostons TD Garden, and no jokes or commentary about the war had been planned, said the spokeswoman, Carla Sims.

Mr. Chappelles remarks were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which said that some audience members had cheered Mr. Chappelle as he spoke about the conflict while others walked out. The Los Angeles Times reported that perhaps 200 people in the roughly 17,000-person audience had departed toward the end of the show.

As a comedian and satirist, he has to navigate the complexities of competing truths, presenting perspectives that can be both thought-provoking and challenging, Ms. Sims said of Mr. Chappelle.

Read full article here