Patton Oswalt addresses Dave Chappelle picture as he stresses they ‘100% disagree on transgender rights’

Patton Oswalt shared pictures with Dave Chappelle on Instagram (Picture: Getty/@pattonoswalt)

Patton Oswalt has addressed the criticism he received after posting a series of pictures on Instagram with Dave Chappelle, following the backlash to the comedian’s controversial special The Closer.

When The Closer was released on Netflix in October 2021, Chappelle was accused of transphobia when he said that he is ‘team Terf’ – an acronym that stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist – while also saying that ‘gender is fact’ and expressing his support for Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

A walkout involving Netflix employees was held in reaction to the episode with 1,000 staff members taking part, prompting the streaming platform to release a statement saying: ‘We value our trans colleagues and allies, and understand the deep hurt that’s been caused.’

As he was marking the end of 2021, Oswalt revealed in an Instagram post that he finished a comedy set when he received a text message from Chappelle urging him to visit the arena next door, where he was performing, to do a guest set.

‘Why not? I waved good-bye to this hell-year with a genius I started comedy with 34 years ago. He works an arena like he’s talking to one person and charming their skin off. Anyway, I ended the year with a real friend and a deep laugh. Can’t ask for much more,’ Oswalt wrote in the caption.

While some Instagram users expressed their admiration for the pair, others criticised Oswalt for his pictures with Chappelle, which he addressed in a subsequent post.

Oswalt emphasised how many decades their friendship goes back (Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Explaining that he has been friends with Chappelle for over three decades, Owalt wrote: ‘He’s refocused and refined ideas a lot of us took as settled about race & history & Life On Planet Earth and spun them around with a phrase or punchline. We’ve done bad & good gigs, open mikes & TV tapings. But we also 100% disagree about transgender rights & representation.’

The King of Queens actor said that he supports trans rights, and the rights of anyone, to ‘live safely in the world as their fullest selves’.

‘For all the things he’s helped ME evolve on, I’ll always disagree with where he stands NOW on transgender issues. But I also don’t believe a seeker like him is done evolving, learning,’ he wrote.

‘You know someone that long, see the struggles and changes, it’s impossible to cut them off. Impossible not to be hopeful and open and cheer them on.’

Chappelle previously said he would be willing to meet trans Netflix employees with conditions (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Oswalt admitted that he has felt ‘guilty’ about cutting friends off when they’ve had differing views, questioning whether doing so has made them ‘dig their heels in deeper [and] fuel their ignorance with a nitro-boost of resentment and spite’.

Describing himself as an ‘LGBTQ ally’ and a ‘loyal friend’, he stated: ‘There’s friction in those traits that I need to reconcile myself, and not let cause feels of betrayal in ANYONE else. And I’m sorry, truly sorry, that I didn’t consider the hurt this would cause. Or the DEPTH of that hurt.’

The 52-year-old said that throughout the day, he had been exchanging several messages with people that had ‘helped guide’ him with writing his post.

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‘I (naively) deleted a lot of posts in the comment thread – critical ones from LGBTQ writers AND s**t-posts by TERF/anti-trans orcs looking for clicks & giggles,’ he confessed.

‘I wanted a “nice comment thread” about the pic with my friend. Ugh. So easy to think someone ELSE needs growth and miss the need in yourself. Gonna keep trying.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives of Dave Chappelle for comment.

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