
Dave Chappelle navigated a landscape of laughter, empathy, and hard truths as he took the 'Saturday Night Live' stage for an episode that resonated with political and social undertones.
- Jan 19, 2025
AceShowbiz - Dave Chappelle commenced the new year's first episode of "Saturday Night Live" with an impactful monologue that traversed through wildfires in Los Angeles, the complexities surrounding Donald Trump's second inauguration, and the storm of allegations against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
This marked Chappelle's fourth appearance as a host on the show, this time joined by the musical guest GloRilla.
Chappelle recounted discussions with "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels about his return, highlighting his initial reluctance. "When Michaels had asked him to host after November's election, Chappelle said he replied, 'Nah, man. I'm cool,' " but later agreed, humorously stating, "The moment I said yes, L.A. burst into flames."
Addressing the wildfires that ravaged L.A., Chappelle struck a mix of humor and criticism. "Then I go on the internet and I watch these fire videos, and I read the comment sections and everyone's like, 'Yeah, it serves these celebrities right! I hope their houses burn down!' You see that? That right there? That's why I hate poor people," he deadpanned.
Shifting focus, Chappelle humorously tackled the serious allegations against Sean "Diddy" Combs. "A lot of my friends asked me,'‘Dave, did you know anything about those freakoff parties?' I'd be like, 'No, man. I don't know anything about freakoffs.' " His reflections on being left out led to a moment of self-deprecation, "I thought about it for a minute. I said, 'Oh, my God! I'm ugly!' "
The monologue concluded on a profound note, reflecting on the late President Jimmy Carter. Chappelle shared a touching story of Carter visiting war-torn Palestine, "I said, I don't know if that's a good president, but that right there, I am sure, is a great man. It made me feel very proud."
Drawing parallels to the importance of empathy, Chappelle issued a heartfelt message to Donald Trump, "Please, do better next time. Please, all of us: Do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they're in the Palisades or Palestine."