Privy-eyed viewers noticed that Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang was standing as far away as possible when comedian Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance during the episode’s closing credits last week.
Chappelle, 50, who hosted the show several times in the past and even faced rumors of writers boycotting when he did so in 2022, did not appear in the most recent episode itself but arrived to wave goodnight to the audience.
The comic has often pushed boundaries and caused outrage with what many see as jokes at the expense of the transgender community, causing people, he says, to protest his shows and even throw eggs at him.
He never spoke, but stood next to a star-studded lineup as host Dakota Johnson thanked musical guest Justin Timberlake and guest stars like Jimmy Fallon, Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.
Yang, who is gay and an outspoken supporter of LGBT causes, was seen as far away from Chappelle as possible and appeared disturbed.
Eyed viewers noticed Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang (pictured left) standing as far away as possible while comedian Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance during the episode’s closing credits last week
Yang, 33, was seen as far away from Chappelle as possible and appeared distressed
At one point, fellow cast member Sarah Sherman, 33, appears to talk about Chappelle’s appearance as the credits roll.
Yang appears to say “Oh” at one point as Sherman is clearly trying to get a sense of the legendary comic.
Neither appears to greet Chappelle at any point during the goodnight exchange, while Yang remains in the corner.
The show and Yang have yet to publicly comment on the episode.
Molly Kearney, the only non-binary cast member in the show’s history, also did not appear to address Chappelle. Kearney uses they/them pronouns.
Kearney, Sherman and Yang all appeared sparingly in that episode and Kearney only appeared in a pre-recorded sketch and did not appear in the closing credits the last time Chappelle hosted in 2022, according to Paste magazine.
According to reports, the writers of Saturday Night Live were boycotting that weekend’s show due to the decision to have Chappelle host the show.
However, a representative for Chappelle said there had been no signs of a boycott when they attended meetings with the writers during the week.
After announcing that Chappelle would be hosting, non-binary SNL writer Celeste Yim posted a photo of herself in what appeared to be the writer’s office on their Instagram Stories.
The show and Yang have yet to publicly comment on the episode
Comedian Molly Kearney, who identifies as non-binary and uses these pronouns, also did not appear in the credits
Saturday Night Live staff writers were rumored to be boycotting a 2022 show over the decision to have Chappelle host it
Above the photo they wrote: ‘I am trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and must be condemned.”
Although Yim did not directly reference Chappelle, the timing suggested that their message was critical of Chappelle’s choice as host. Yim is still a writing supervisor on the series.
Chappelle has been criticized in recent years for a steady stream of jokes involving transgender people.
Critics have labeled them transphobic, but fans say Chappelle is merely exercising his right to free speech.
In his 2017 Netflix special, he talked about pitching a movie idea to a Hollywood producer about a superhero who gets his power by raping women.
Other critics have complained that some of his recent stand-up specials featured long digressions that seemed more like airing grievances than comedy routines.
Chappelle’s new Netflix special The Dreamer debuted on December 31.
During the show, which was taped at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, DC, he not only makes fun of the trans community, but also of disabled people, saying, “They’re not as organized as gay people. And I like to punch down.”