screenshot via PBS
Michelle Wolf went from relative unknown (despite having an HBO special and upcoming Netflix show, still pretty unknown) to a national talking point in less than 24 hours after she delivered a scathing stand-up comedy set at this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner.
Now, while people from both sides of the aisle have been quick to praise or condemn the outspoken Wolf, comedians all seem to feel the same way about Wolf: they respect the hell out of her. And you can add legendary comedian Dave Chappelle to the list of people who respect the performance Wolf put on that night.
Speaking to PBS Newshour, Chappelle discussed Wolf’s routine and why it was so important that she didn’t pull any punches.
“I really respected what I saw. I don’t know who those people are that she—she can’t say that to them, ’cause they offend people all the time,” Chappelle said of the Trump administration’s pushback against Wolf. “And I think that for many people, not everybody who watched it, but for many people, it’s cathartic to watch that woman speak truth to power like that.”
“And whether they understand it or not, there was an enormous amount of levity in what she did. But it was very flat-footed and it was grounded in her truth, and whether I agree with it or not, I gotta respect the artistry. I gotta respect the gangsta. I know how hard it is to do what she did in front of that lame-ass crowd. And she—I think she nailed it. I thought it was beautiful. And I—I didn’t see her pander once and I thought that was beautiful,” Chappelle said.
When you have Dave Chappelle in your corner, it’s hard to lose. Keep on kicking ass, Michelle.
