Comedian Dave Chappelle faced backlash during a live performance in Boston on Thursday after criticizing the United States' support for Israel's "war crimes" against Palestinians.
According to The Wall Street Journal, some audience members walked out in response to Chappelle's remarks.
During the show at the TD Garden, Chappelle condemned Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,400 Israelis. However, he also criticized what he claimed were Israel's war crimes in Gaza, leading to pushback from the crowd. One audience member even told Chappelle to "shut up" after he expressed his belief that people should not lose their jobs for supporting Palestinians.
In response, Chappelle highlighted the Israeli government's decision to cut off essential resources like food, water, and electricity to Gaza. He accused Israel of killing innocent civilians and committing war crimes. Palestinian authorities report that over 4,300 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the conflict as the Israel Defense Forces continue to bombard the enclave with more than 6,000 bombs.
Witnesses at the show described a divided audience, with some cheering and shouting "Free Palestine!" while others countered with "What about Hamas?!" The tension escalated to the point where some members of the audience chose to leave.
Towards the end of the performance, Chappelle reportedly stated that two wrongs do not make a right, referring to the Hamas attacks and Israel's subsequent military response.
Despite the show being listed on ticket outlets as one of Chappelle's dates, a spokesperson for the comedian denied his presence in Boston that night, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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