{"id":24193,"date":"2022-07-24T14:55:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-24T14:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dave-chappelle-performs-at-chris-rock-kevin-hart-nyc-show-the-hollywood-reporter\/"},"modified":"2022-07-24T14:55:41","modified_gmt":"2022-07-24T14:55:41","slug":"dave-chappelle-performs-at-chris-rock-kevin-hart-nyc-show-the-hollywood-reporter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dave-chappelle-performs-at-chris-rock-kevin-hart-nyc-show-the-hollywood-reporter\/","title":{"rendered":"Dave Chappelle Performs at Chris Rock, Kevin Hart NYC Show \u2013 The Hollywood Reporter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dave Chappelle was the unannounced opener for the Chris Rock-Kevin Hart double bill at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. To Radiohead’s \u201cKarma Police,\u201d and wearing a white Nirvana In Utero<\/em> shirt, the controversial comic came out smoking a cigarette without any introduction other than his white, green and red letter \u201cC\u201d logo on the LED screens. The capacity crowd welcomed him with abundant applause and cheered whenever he brought up the topic of \u201ccancel culture,\u201d which was frequently.<\/p>\n

\u201cHad to sneak my way in here,\u201d he opened, just days after he had to move a Minneapolis show to another venue after the initial space reportedly faced backlash for booking the comedian.<\/p>\n

Chappelle assured the crowd that \u201cdespite what you may have read about in the news, I’m okay, and I appreciate the support.\u201d He referenced the criticism he’s received since his Netflix special, The Closer<\/em>and he \u201cgets it\u201d but then added, \u201cI already spent the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his 22-minute opening set, he joked about the surreal quality of getting attacked while onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in early May and yelled at his bodyguards for \u201cwearing dress shoes on the job,\u201d griping he would have been safer if they weren ‘t \u201csliding all over the place like at a bowling alley.\u201d<\/p>\n

He kvetched that Chris Rock was able to get the first joke in after the scuffle that night (\u201cwas that Will Smith?\u201d) and then admitted his follow-up gag (\u201cthat was a trans man\u201d) didn’t merely bomb, it \u201cset up another two-day news cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

His real fury came at the press, particularly the New York Post<\/em>, for calling the attack \u201calleged\u201d when the incident was captured on video. He also accused the paper of putting words in the man’s mouth, urging the man to say he was triggered by Chappelle’s material. The comic claimed he knew the lines were fed, because he spoke to the man backstage for himself and \u201call he could say was\u201d\u2014at which point Chappelle made \u201ccuckoo\u201d noises.<\/p>\n

He added that he hoped his attacker gets monkeypox in jail\u2014\u201cnot that he should die, but his ass should itch for four to six weeks.\u201d Chappelle also claimed the first call he got that night was from Louis CK, whom he later shouted out, saying, \u201cLouis, even if you get in trouble in the streets, you are my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chappelle handed the mic to Chris Rock who did an hourlong set, with Rock passing the mic to Kevin Hart. Both men brought up Will Smith a few times, though Rock leaned on the \u201ccancel culture\u201d theme a little harder. \u201cAnyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,\u201d was one line that brought the house down.<\/p>\n

The night concluded when the three men appeared on stage for a 10 minute free-for-all. They ribbed one another and expressed sentiments of love and gratitude. \u201cThis doesn’t happen by accident\u201d Hart said.<\/p>\n

Hart then said he had a gift for Rock, who is 14 years his senior, and presented him with a goat wearing gold chains. \u201cI’m not taking care of that shit!\u201d Rock shouted, as the arena seemingly vibrated with laughter. As Hart spoke sincerely about how he considers Chris Rock to be the Greatest of All Time, Chappelle interrupted to say, \u201cthis is the worst night of this goat’s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rock batted that away: \u201cHe’s just happy he’s not at a Jamaican restaurant!\u201d<\/p>\n

Around this time, the goat had an accident on stage. \u201cHow’s your first night in show business?\u201d Chappelle asked, putting a microphone to the goat’s mouth. At the goat’s lack of response, he asked \u201cwhat are we gonna call him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill Smith!\u201d Hart shot back.<\/p>\n

As things wrapped up, Chappelle turned down the volume for a minute to thank Hart and Rock for having his back. He said that comedians have a bond that only other comedians can understand, and \u201cwhen my brothers call, I come running.\u201d<\/p>\n

The five night Headliners Only mini-tour kicked off at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island on Thursday before it headed to Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Friday. Sunday night the pairing heads to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, before the jaunt ends at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Monday. Rock then continues his Ego Death tour through Nov. 19, while Hart’s Reality Check tour ends Sept. 8.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n