In trying to pose as a heroic activist, Patton Oswald threw his loyal friend to the wolves only to prove that Oswald takes himself more seriously than he really is.
During this past New Year's Eve, two comedians embroiled themselves in controversy for convoluted reasons. Earlier in 2021, the highly respected comedian Dave Chappelle released a new comedy on Netflix, “The Closer”. One joke, in particular, led the special to be in the headlines for months.
In his special, Chappelle pokes fun at the transgender community with a joke about how transgender women’s body parts are like “beyond or impossible meat” of a woman's body part. Chappelle delivers the joke in a more crude manner, but this one joke is what set many activists off, attempting to cancel him.
In the last week of 2021, Patton Oswald, an older and more politically incorrect comedian, did a sold-out show, opening for Dave Chappelle. Oswald not only has been in the world of comedy but also has become a famous voice actor, noticeably voicing “Remy” in Ratatouille.
On New Year’s Eve of 2021, Patton posted a letter to Chapelle on Instagram, thanking him for giving him a set to perform with a long-time friend in comedy. Furthermore, Oswald gave Dave Chappelle his flowers in comedy with the caption of the post “I ended the year with a real friend and a deep laugh. Can’t ask for much more.”
Yet, just a day later, Oswald retracts his admiration for a lifelong friend with another post on Instagram, this time coming off much more narcissistic and self-absorbed. The caption itself shows Oswald attempting to play both sides, which to an extent is admirable, as he still calls Chappelle his friend, but also completely attacks his character.
Oswald attacks Chappelle for his jokes and how Chappelle needs to grow as a person. Ultimately, Oswald comes off as an opportunist who is trying to win back “his crowd”.
