Video of the attack on Dave Chappelle during performance 1:04
(CNN) --
Dave Chappelle addressed several controversial topics in his recent "Saturday Night Live" monologue, focusing primarily on Kanye West's anti-Semitic comments.
In his lengthy monologue, Chappelle mentioned former President Donald Trump and Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and may have also alluded to the negative reaction to comments he has made about transgender people.
Before beginning his routine, he unfolded a small piece of paper and read it: "'I denounce anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I stand in solidarity with my friends in the Jewish community.' And that, Kanye, is how you buy time."
On the subject of West, Chappelle said he normally approached the rapper when West was involved in a controversy, but this time, Chappelle said, he waited to see the response to West's anti-Semitic remarks.
Chappelle also joked that "Kanye got into so much trouble that Kyrie got into trouble," referring to the NBA star suspended by the Brooklyn Nets for comments after sharing a link to an anti-Semitic movie on social media.
Chappelle said he could see how West "embraces the illusion that Jews run show business", saying "it's not a crazy thing to think about, but it's a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this".
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He continued, "I know the Jewish people have been through terrible things all over the world, but you can't blame it on black Americans. You just can't."
Kanye West apologizes for hurting the black community
Dave Chappelle Monologue!
Part 1 pic.twitter.com/cSpm6EtCCy
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 13, 2022
In an apparent nod to the backlash some comedians receive when the public finds their jokes offensive, Chappelle ended the monologue by admitting to the audience that he no longer enjoyed performing in front of large crowds, saying "it shouldn't be so scary to talk about anything, makes my job incredibly difficult."
"I hope they don't take anything away from me," he said.
"Whoever they are."
Chappelle has made explicit comments about trans women's bodies and transgender people's lack of gender in several stand-up specials released in recent years.
Criticism of his comments mounted rapidly in 2021 following the release of his multimillion-dollar Netflix special,
The Closer
, which offended LGBTQ advocates and led some Netflix employees to protest the company and call for the special to be pulled.
Netflix championed the special, which was subsequently nominated for two Emmys.
Chappelle addressed the criticism on tour shortly after the release of his special, telling his audience that he was willing to speak to trans critics, but that he "wouldn't bow to anybody's demands."
Dave ChappelleSaturday Night LiveSNL
