Staff writers at Saturday Night Live are reportedly boycotting this weekend’s episode over comedian Dave Chappelle hosting it.
Chappelle has become the target of left-wing activists after making jokes about transgender people in his comedy specials.
While some of the writers are planning to boycott, none of the actors are — according to a report from Page Six.
“They’re not going to do the show,” an unnamed insider told the outlet. “But none of the actors are boycotting.”
A representative for Chappelle said that there was no indication of a boycott when the comedian attended a meeting with writers this week.
“The room was full of writers,” the representative said. “They all pitched ideas and they seemed very excited about it…. Dave is looking to have some fun.”
However, some staff at the show have taken to social media to voice their complaints.
SNL writer Celeste Yim, who identifies as “non-binary,” posted on Instagram after Chappelle’s hosting was announced, writing “transphobia is murder.”
“After last Saturday’s announcement that Chappelle would be hosting, non-binary SNL writer Celeste Yim posted a picture of themselves in what appeared to be the writer’s offices to their Instagram Stories,” Daily Mail reports. “Over the picture, they wrote: ‘I’m trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.'”
The report continued, “While Yim did not directly reference Chappelle, the timing suggested their post was criticism of Chappelle being chose as host.”
It is unclear if Yim is part of the boycott.
Chappelle has hosted the show twice before.
In his Netflix special “The Closer,” Chappelle compared being transgender to wearing black face, saying that if he was a woman, he would be “mad as sh-t.”
The comedian also defended author J.K. Rowling saying they are both on “Team TERF,” or trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
Former Netflix employee Terra Field, who was co-vice president of Netflix’s transgender employee resource group, resigned in protest of the special.
Commenting on the SNL hosting gig, Field tweeted, “wait I thought I canceled him. Is it possible cancel culture isn’t a real thing?”
Wait I thought I cancelled him. Is it possible cancel culture isn’t a real thing?? 🫠 https://t.co/cIv5oeA7Nm
— Terra Field, UNIX eunuch (@RainofTerra) November 6, 2022
The comedian will be joined by musical guest Black Star on November 12th’s episode.
