Chappelle called ‘childish’ at his old high school
Dave Chappelle paid his alma mater a surprise visit earlier this week, and a published report suggests it wasn’t all fun and games.
According to Politico, close to
600 students from D.C.’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts packed into an auditorium Tuesday to hear the comedian discuss his controversial Netflix special “The Closer,” which has been blasted for transphobic remarks and other insensitive commentary and sparked a cascade of backlash against Chappelle and the streaming giant.
During a Q&A session, a student reportedly said, “I’m 16 and I think you’re childish; you handled it like a child.”
“My friend, with all due respect, I don’t believe you could make one of the decisions I have to make on a given day,” Chappelle reportedly responded.
Spokespeople for Chappelle and the school did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Students who spoke to Politico did not go on the record, citing fear of retribution from the school.
After another student stepped to the mic and asked a different antagonizing question. Chappelle reportedly answered by saying, “I’m better than every instrumentalist, artist, no matter what art you do in this school, right now, I’m sure that will change. I’m sure you’ll be household names soon.”
ABC is planning
‘A Very Boy Band Holiday’
ABC must have known it was on to something with last Sunday’s battle of the Boston-based boy bands during the 2021 American Music Awards.
Following the powerhouse performance of 1980s heartthrobs New Edition and New Kids on the Block, the Disneyowned broadcast network is proving there’s plenty more where that came from with its upcoming holiday special.
On Dec. 6, the Disney-owned broadcast network will air “A Very Boy Band Holiday” featuring members from multiple boybands from the 80s and 90s performing some of their hits mixed with a few classic holiday favorites.
Produced by 45 Live, the holiday special includes New Edition’s Bobby Brown and Michael Bivins, Boyz ll Men’s Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, Joey McIntyre of the New Kid’s On The Block, Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre from 98 Degrees, NSYNC’s Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Lance Bass.
There will also be members from the Backstreet Boys, and O-Town, along with a special performance of “This One’s For The Children” by McIntyre.
‘American Pie’ singer congratulates Swift
Don McLean is singing Taylor Swift’s praises.
The Songwriters Hall of Famer congratulated Swift after her 10-minute edition of “All Too Well” broke his “American Pie” record for longest song to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.
“Let’s face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot, but if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor,” McLean tweeted Tuesday.
McLean’s seminal “American Pie” is eight minutes and 42 seconds long. He had held the record since 1971, when the song came out.
Swift debuted her longer version of “All Too Well” this month as part of her release of the “Red (Taylor’s Version)” album.