Yahoo Lifestyle Dave Chappelle’s ‘SNL’ Monologue Wishes Trump Good Luck, Jokes about the LA Fires and Says He’s Tired of Being Controversial
Dave Chappelle took the stage at Studio 8H for the new year’s inaugural episode of “Saturday Night Live,” marking his fourth time hosting the show.
He walked out onstage wearing a suit and smoking a cigarette and said, “Boy, I tell you something. I’m being very honest. I am in quite the pickle tonight. And it started in October. Lorne Michaels called me.”
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Chappelle recounted how he asked him to host the show. “The first episode after the election,” recalls Chappelle. “And I was like, nah, I’m cool.” He describes how he then asked Michaels to, “Save the date closest to January 6. You know what? I could just get rid of all these old Trump jokes. I’ll do it!” The comedian paused and said, “The moment I said yes, LA burst into flames!”
Chappelle, who is known for controversial jokes, including those about trans people, said, “I’m tired of being controversial. I’m trying to turn over a new leaf. It is way too soon to try to joke about a catastrophe like that. This one is close to home.”
Chappelle rattled off the names of actors he’d worked with, like Dennis Quaid, who have been impacted by the ongoing fires in LA. “It broke my heart,” said Chappelle. He noted all the negative comments online about celebrities losing their homes. “You see that right there? That’s why I hate poor people,” said Chappelle to laughter. “Because they can’t see past their own pain.”
“The other day on the news, they said these fires were the most expensive tragedy that ever happened in the United States history. I think that’s because people in LA have nice stuff. I could burn 40,000 acres in Mississippi for like six or seven dollars,” said Chappelle. He also speculated on the different conspiracy theories about what started the fires. “If you were a rational thinking person, you’d have to at least consider the possibility that God hates these people,” joked Chappelle.
Seated on a stool and smoking, Chappelle continued, “A lot of poor people were affected, too. A lot of these people found out the week of the fires that they lost their fire insurance. Luigi is like, ‘You’re welcome.’” Rounding in on Luigi Mangione, he said, “That kid did almost plan the perfect crime. Only thing he forgot was to shave his eyebrows.”
Chappelle, who lives in Ohio, spoke about Donald Trump’s comments about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, last year. “Trump’s a wild guy. He said the Haitians in Springfield, OH, were eating people’s dogs and cats. I live one town over from Springfield. That’s not what happened in Springfield at all.” Chappelle shares how he wanted to lend his support after those comments. “Every day I’d drive over to Springfield and eat lunch at the Haitian restaurant.” He paused, “And to be honest with you, I don’t know what that meat was. But whatever it was, it fell right off the bone.”
“It’s no fun being famous anymore,” said the comic, who likened being famous to storming the beaches of Normandy and losing comrades in battle. He talked about “Puffy” and the allegations surrounding Diddy. “A lot of my friends ask me, they say, Dave, did you know anything about those Freak Off parties [Diddy hosted]?” Chappelle smirked.
Later, he said he wasn’t invited to the parties because, “Oh my god, I’m ugly! That’s a tough way to find out.” He went on, “Can you imagine if you were me reading the newspaper finding out: everyone in Hollywood had an orgy behind your back?”
Noting Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Chapelle said, “Here’s the thing: On Monday, Donald Trump is coming back. It’s going to be the 47th president. All the flags at half-mast because Jimmy Carter died.” Chappelle then told a story about seeing a photo of Carter in Palestine with people cheering on the former president, and he said, “The picture brought tears to my eyes.”
Chappelle said while he wasn’t sure Carter was a good president, “He was a good man. It made me feel proud to see that.”
Concluding the unusually long monologue, Chappelle said, “The presidency is no place for petty people. Donald Trump, I know you watch the show, man, remember whether people voted for you or not, they’re all counting on you.”
Wishing Trump luck, he said, “The whole world is counting on you. Please do better next time.” Packing an emotional punch, Chappelle concluded, “Do not forget your humanity for displaced people whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.”
Watch his monologue below:
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