Amid continued backlash over his material about transgender people, Dave Chappelle argues his approach stands in contrast to the Republican Party, which he says "weaponizes" the jokes for political gain. Source: Steve Marcus / Getty During a recent interview, the comedian spoke out against Republicans, accusing some people within the party of turning transgender-related humor into a political tool. Chappelle has been at the center of controversy since 2021, when his Netflix special, The Closer, featured jokes that many viewers labeled as transphobic.