Dave Chappelle Drops Instagram Video to Defend Himself Amid Controversy Over 'The Closer'

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Dave Chappelle dropped a five-minute clip on Instagram to defend himself from the controversy surrounding his latest Netflix release "The Closer" on Monday, which critics have called transphobic and attempted to have removed from the streaming platform.

In the video he denies being invited to speak to transgender employees at Netflix, hundreds of which staged a walkout because of the special, and refusing to do so saying, “If they had invited me, I would have accepted. Although I am confused about what we would be speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like I’m the only one who can’t go to the office anymore.”

Chapelle went on to say, “I’m more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody’s demands.”

He noted that the meeting would not come without conditions, however, adding that he had three: anyone participating had to watch "The Closer" in its entirety, he would choose the time and place, and “you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”

Gadsby, an Australian comedian who also works with Netflix, likely drew Chapelle's ire when she criticized Netflix for defending Chappelle and the content of his special earlier in the month.

He went on to say that his "cancellation" was affecting a project close to his heart, insisting that his documentary "Untitled" was being dropped from film festivals, though he did not list which ones.

To circumvent this and get the project, produced and directed by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar and which claims to provide a" glimpse into the challenges facing a rural village in Ohio during the early days of the pandemic," to the masses Chapelle said he is taking the film on a 10-city screening tour.

“You will be able to see this movie in its entirety, and you can see what they’re trying to obstruct you from seeing,” Chappelle said of the film. “And you can judge for yourself, but you cannot have this conversation and exclude my voice from it. That is only fair.”

Watch the entire video below:

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Megan Thee Stallion Teases Upcoming College Graduation on Instagram

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Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean rapper Megan Thee Stallion has given up doing "Hot girl s---!"

The 26-year-old rapper, whose viral single "Hot Girl Summer" helped catapult her to superstardom in 2019, took to Instagram Monday to announce her impending college graduation from Texas Southern University with a degree in health administration.

Posting with her graduation cap, adorned with the words "Real hot girl s---", the three-time Grammy winner wrote, "2021 finna graduate collegeeee. Taking my graduation pics today. I can't wait for y'all to see."

The milestone is just the latest in a long list of victories for the artist, born Megan Pete, who grew up in Houston, Texas, on and off the mic. Earlier this year she became a Popeyes franchisee and signed a deal that included a co-branded merchandise line as well as debuting her own "Hottie Sauce" and making a six-figure donation to Houston Random Acts of Kindness — a charity group that aims to help those in need, including children with special needs and veterans.

Still, this may be her most important accomplishment. In 2020 she told PEOPLE, "I want to get my degree because I really want my mom to be proud." Holly Pete died in 2019 after a battle with brain cancer but not before seeing the beginning of her daughter's journey.

"She saw me going to school before she passed," said Megan, whose father died when she was a teenager

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Author Beverly Tate, Mother of Snoop Dogg, Dead at 70

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Snoop Dogg took to social media Sunday to share with the world that his mother, Beverly Broadus Green, is dead at the age of 70 following a lengthy battle with illness.

The legendary rapper, born Calvin Broadus, paid tribute to Green in a series of Instagram posts.

"Mama thank u for having me,” he wrote under a photo of her smiling broadly while the duo leaned in together for a hug. On another post, featuring his mother holding a bouquet of white flowers while posing in a striking red dress, he added, “Thank u god for giving me an angel for a mother."

Earlier this year Snoop had asked fans to pray for Green, also known as Beverly Tate, after she had been hospitalized for undisclosed reasons and he shared an intimate update from her hospital bed along with his brothers writing, "me and my brothers went to c mama today and she opened up her eyes to c us and let us know she still fighting."

Snoop's father Vernell Varnado also posted about Green's passing writing, "Snoop's mom has passed today can all my fans pray for our family we need it more than ever."

 

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Green, born in McComb, Mississippi, raised three other sons along with one of the most recognizable musicians on the planet and was a published author as well. In her 2014 book "Real Love II," Green offered a behind-the-scenes look into her life and shared, "her journey from her roots in the deep south to the bright lights of Hollywood."