Fresh off his post-election hosting debut on Saturday Night Live, comedian Dave Chappelle is set to premiere three stand-up specials on Netflix in 2017. The streaming platform announced on Monday that it will release all three specials simultaneously, one of which will consist of new material while the other two will come from Chappelle's "personal comedy vault." They will represent his first live concert specials in 12 years since he infamously left his popular Comedy Central sketch series Chappelle's Show behind and quit show business.
“Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy—searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential,” Lisa Nishimura, VP of Original Documentary and Comedy, said in a statement. “Dave’s three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy, and we are honored he will mark his global return on Netflix.”
Chappelle caused some controversy immediately before Election Day this month when he made jokes in a live setting that seemed to defend Donald Trump against accusations of sexual assault and say that Hillary Clinton was "not right" for America. He later clarified that he was "not a Trump supporter" and delivered this message to the president-elect in his SNL monologue: "I'm wishing Donald Trump luck. And I'm going to give him a chance. And we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too."
— Matt Wilstein
