Stand-up comedian and actor Dave Chappelle reportedly drew cheers from an audience in Abu Dhabi on Thursday after calling Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip a “genocide.”
The capital of the seven-emirate alliance that makes up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula drew a crowd that cheered Chappelle’s remarks.
AP Reports The crowd at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena cheered as DJ Trauma, who accompanied Chappelle on the trip, played “My Blood is Palestinian” by Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf.
About halfway through the wide-ranging comedy scene, Chappell, who is Muslim, said his friends initially told him to either discuss the war or not.
“Free Palestine!” a woman in the audience shouted, according to the media, and the crowd cheered.
Chappelle later called the war a “genocide” and said that ensuring the safety of Jews in America would help them realize that they do not need Israel as their ultimate protector, at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, according to the Associated Press report.
This is not the first time Chappelle has voiced his views on the situation in the Middle East.
Breitbart News reported that Chappelle caused backlash last year when he made pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel rants during a performance in Boston, but later attempted to explain himself.
—Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 29, 2023
During the program, he reportedly said that people who voice their support for the Palestinians following the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel should not lose their jobs.
He also reportedly said Israel was committing war crimes in Gaza and accused the United States of “supporting the slaughter of innocent civilians.”
When members of the audience allegedly shouted “Free Palestine,” some Jews in the audience reported feeling sick and left the venue.
Chappelle later said he had been misquoted.
