Jaclyn P Moore, a writer, executive producer and showrunner for Netflix's Dear White People, has parted ways with the streaming platform after it refused to pull comedian Dave Chappelle's upcoming stand-up special.
The special, The Closer, has inspired waves of controversy among many in the LGBTQ community for what Moore described as "blatantly and dangerously transphobic" content.
Moore announced her departure in a series of tweets, seen below.
In his special, which dropped this past Tuesday, Chappelle jokes about trans people's genitals, defends rapper DaBaby's recent homophobic comments and declares himself "Team TERF" when discussing Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's years-long battle against the trans community.
Chappelle also doubles down on controversies about transphobic content in his previous specials, Equanimity and Sticks and Stones
In her tweet storm, Moore characterized Chappelle's content as more than just offensive, but actually dangerous. Citing Chappelle's jokes about how women should be angry when trans women are treated as their equals and he should have told a trans woman's mother her daughter "was a dude," Moore wrote:
"Those words have real world consequences. Consequences that every trans woman I know has dealt with. Bruises and panicked phone calls to friends. That's real."
She also shared some of her own experiences with transphobic abuse.
"I've been thrown against walls because, 'I'm not a 'real' woman.' I've had beer bottles thrown at me."
Moore went on to cite these as the reasons she was leaving Netflix.
"...I can't be a part of a company that thinks that's worth putting out and celebrating..."
Moore is not alone in speaking out against the special.
In a statement, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) spoke out against Chappelle and Netflix for giving him a platform.
"Dave Chappelle's brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people and other marginalized communities.
"...audiences don't support platforming anti-LGBTQ diatribes. We agree."
And National Black Justice Coalition executive director David Johns issued a sobering criticism of Chappelle's content and Netflix's willingness to promote it.
"With 2021 on track to be the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States – the majority of whom are Black transgender people – Netflix should know better."
"...Perpetuating transphobia perpetuates violence."
As if to prove this point, the comments on Moore's Twitter thread and several other tweets about her announcement have immediately filled up with commenters hurling transphobic abuse at her.
But many others shared Moore's anger and applauded her for taking a stand.
Neither Chappelle nor Netflix have commented on the controversy as of this writing.
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