Comrade Fatso says he is ‘disappointed’ with Dave Chappelle. Here are some thoughts

Shoko Festival director Comrade Fatso has thrown his weight to the hoard of those who find Dave Chappelle problematic after his latest Netflix special, The Closer.

In three tweets, he said:

Dear Dave Chapelle,
I’m so disappointed in you. At a time of urgent issues like white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, Trumpism and climate breakdown you chose to hone your fire on the trans community, #MeToo movement and lesbians.
You are rich, famous and in such a position of power. But you refuse to speak truth to any form of power. Apart from potentially Israel – but you even fuck that one up too by making it sound anti semitic instead of an attack on Zionist imperialism.
The power of comedy is the ability to punch up. To speak truth to the dominant white male patriarchal power structures in US society. Unfortunately these days you seem to be about punching down on those who are already oppressed and struggle to have a voice.

Fatso, real name Samm Monro is very specific about his ire towards the celebrated comedian. Fatso is too a comedian.

His right to be disappointed is sacrosanct as protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 to which Zimbabwe is a party, having adopted and ratified it in 1991.

Section 18 (1) is of primary interest:

Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

It is the freedom of thought and conscience that is key.

As much as Fatso has a right to his thoughts, so does Chappelle. This is not about who is right or who is wrong. Even at the best of times, there are things Fatso stands for which many will disagree. It is a right to speak and debate that must be maintained as opposed to rule by consensus, silencing and outright protectionism.

There was a time when comedy created discourse on issues and not about the comedian. Making the comedian the subject and not the issue is merely transference of power. It is from the fascist playbook, where the issues must not be discussed, but the person, creating a perceived enemy.

For the avoidance of doubt, Fatso is far from a fascist as you will come. He is decent person who wants to see a better world, based on the issues he feels needs to be tackled.

And there is no suggestion that Chappelle is a fascist either. His comedy has always been dark, brutish, uncomfortable. He has always tackled topics where no others would go. This whether it is the How old is 15 really? or the fallacy of famous people as role models.

In all of his jokes he has tackled the irony of society, its tendency to be aggressive on certain value systems.

Again, this not a defence of the content, but a debate around the right to crack jokes at whoever’s expense.

What is said is simply to mean that his entire career is based on this very type of comedy. He has not changed to suit audiences and those who watch his material know his stance. In Sticks and Stones he said, ““Remember bitch, you clicked on my face.”

The debate around punching up or punching down has devolved from understanding an art form to strict rules. The idea around punching up is not a rule but a suggestion for a successful career. Essentially punching down is not liked by establishment platforms, who are the gatekeepers for bookings on TV, clubs and the sort.

Being mean also doesn’t get you liked by audiences.

With the different genres of comedy, their effect and consequence is relative.

Dave Chappelle is at a point in his career where the risk of being cancelled or not being booked for his thoughts is minimal. And in previous specials, he has accepted that being rich and famous gives him certain advantages. And in this one, he pours scorn on Twitter.

This is not surprising because this is a man who walked away for an eye-popping deal for The Chappelle Show because of ideological differences. Essentially that he got uncomfortable what he would do for money.

As Chappelle puts it on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, “It just raised an interesting question to me, which I was already wrestling with in the first place.”

Whatever his ideological hill, it is one he will die on.

And beyond ideology, this is a business. “I’m not tryna be your hero, nigga. I’m tryna be rich,” he once said to a fan.

And a lot is in that. He has repeatedly said not to take him too seriously. He is prodding around and art in its form normally is that way.

In his 2004 special, For What It’s Worth, Chappelle said.

Stop worshipping celebrities so much. Just don’t pay attention…
I don’t even know why people listen to me. I’ll say anything. I’ve done commercials for Coke and Pepsi. I don’t give a fuck what comes out of my mouth. I say what it takes. Whatever it takes, that’s what I’m saying.

Fatso is right to say that kind of comedy is not or him. And that is fine. He is not trying to be hero. And that for all, is where perhaps a lot is in.

As much as Fatso has a right to be disappointed, Chappelle too has a right to offend.