Dave Chappelle’s “SNL” Opening Monologue Cheers on Anti-Defamation League, Claims It “Popularizes” Anti-Semitism

The national director of the Jewish civil rights organization, the Anti-Defamation League, took to Twitter last night to express concern over comedian Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue Saturday evening press.

Chappelle, a controversial comedian who has been accused of his observations about transgender people, Jews, black people and other insensitivity, took a long time to update SNL on recent problems with rapper/entrepreneur Kanye West and basketball player Kyrie Irving.

“We should not expect that @Dave Chappelle serves as a moral compass for society, but disturbing to watch @nbcsnl not just normalize but popularize #Anti-SemitismJonathan Greenblatt of the ADL said in a tweet today. Why is Jewish sentiment denied or belittled at almost every turn? Why does our trauma provoke applause?”

To begin his routine, Chappele unfolded a small piece of paper, read it and said: “‘I reject anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I am in the Jewish community with my friends.’ And so, Kanye, buy yourself some time.”

Then he came to the flesh of the tooth. Chappelle said that he had come to learn that “there are two words in the English language that should never be said back to back: ‘The’ and ‘Jews'”.

“I’ve been to Hollywood and — nobody gets mad at me — I’m just telling you what I saw,” he said, adding a characteristic pause. “There are many Jews. How much. But that means nothing! You know what I mean? Just because there are a lot of black people in Ferguson, Missouri, doesn’t mean we’re in control.”

He added that “the illusion that Jews are in show business” is not crazy to think, but “it’s crazy to say it out loud.” He also said of West: “It’s a big deal, he broke the rules of show business. You know, the rules of perception. If they’re black, it’s a mess. If it’s Italian, it’s ‘ a mob. If they’re Jewish, it’s a coincidence and you must never talk about it.”

Chappelle concluded his long monologue by emphasizing his point.

“It shouldn’t be so scary to talk about something,” he said. “It makes my job incredibly difficult. And to be honest, I’m tired of speaking in front of so many people. I love you very much and thank you for your support. And I hope they don’t take anything from me…from anyone you be.”

the forward A Jewish non-profit media outlet said Twitter’s reaction to Chappelle’s routine was mixed. It noted the The Jerusalem Post accused the comedian of “embracing anti-Semitic tropes.” Adam Feldman, theater critic for Time Out New York, tweeted: “That Dave Chappelle SNL monologue probably did more to normalize anti-Semitism than anything Kanye said.” Screenwriter Amalia Levari tweeted disapprovingly: “So cool that SNL gave Chappelle the stage to give a TED talk about how good anti-Semitic dog whistles really are.”

wrote Rabbi Josh Yuter, an influencer on Jewish Twitter: “The main point, as I understood Chappelle’s monologue, is that there is a double standard of who can say what about whom. If my Twitter feed is any indication, everyone agrees that this is an issue, although there is disagreement over the specifics.”

meeting has reached out to NBC for comment.