HANNAH Gadsby made headlines when she slammed Netflix and Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy, The Closer.
HANNAH Gadsby made headlines when she slammed Netflix and Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy, The Closer.
Gadsby said the streaming service was an “amoral algorithm cult” and criticised their decision to support Chappelle’s latest comedy project.
Hannah Gadsby has locked heads with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos
Who is Hannah Gadsby?
Hannah Gadsby is an Australian comedian who made headlines for criticizing Chappelle and his Netflix special, labeling it “hate speech.”
The 43-year-old comedian is known for her own Netflix specials Nanette and Douglas.
She became embroiled in the Dave Chappelle controversy last week when Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos mentioned Gadsby as an example of the diverse content on the platform in a memo to staff.
The show was a hit and a year later Gadsby previewed her latest comedy show, Douglas, to packed audiences around the world.
In April 2021, Gadsby announced on Instagram that she had married producer Jenney Shamash in January 2021.
She said: “We got married in January and we are very chuffed about it. For the record: this is me gushing. I am full of very positive feelings.
“This is a nice story. My heart felt thanks to everybody who voted for marriage equality.”
“We are working hard to ensure marginalized communities aren’t defined by a single story,” Sarandos wrote. “So we have Sex Education, Orange is the New Black, Control Z, Hannah Gadsby and Dave Chappelle all on Netflix. Key to this is increasing diversity on the content team itself.”
Gadsby hit back at Sarandos on Instagram to say she did not want her name mentioned in relation to the Chappelle controversy.
“Hey Ted Sarandos! Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess,” she wrote last week.
She then went on to say that she has received abuse from fans of Chappelle: “Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets $20m to process his emotionally stunted partial world view.”
“You didn’t pay me nearly enough to deal with the real-world consequences of the hate speech dog-whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted,” Gadsby continued.
“F*** you and your amoral algorithm cult. I do s***s with more backbone than you. That’s just a joke! I definitely didn’t cross a line because you just told the world there isn’t one.”
What has Dave Chappelle said about Hannah Gadsby?
Responding to critics, including Gadsby, the US comedian said on Instagram: “To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anyone’s demands.
“And if you want to meet with me, I am more than willing to, but I have some conditions.
“First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end.
“You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”
He then praised Sarandos for supporting him.
“Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, he’s the only one that didn’t cancel me yet.”
Sarandos has since apologised for not considering the feelings of trans people.
He said: “I feel I should’ve made sure to recognise that a group of our employees was hurting very badly from the decision made, and I should’ve recognised upfront before going into a rationalization of anything the pain they were going through.
“I say that because I respect them deeply, and I love the contribution they have at Netflix. They were hurting, and I should’ve recognised that first.”
