Dave Chappelle addresses George Floyd's death in his powerful surprise Netflix special 8:46

The special is named 8:46, after both the length of time former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck and the exact time Dave Chappelle was born
Megan C. Hills12 June 2020

Dave Chappelle made history when he hosted one of the very first socially distanced comedy shows amidst the coronavirus pandemic and it’s since been released on Netflix, under the title 8:46.

The title of the special is both a reference to the length of time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of unarmed black man George Floyd - which Chauvin now faces a murder charge for - as well as Chappelle’s exact time of birth on his birth certificate.

Chappelle delivered a powerful monologue about Floyd’s death and said that what has transpired since then is the “wrath of God”, as well as discussing why he initially felt he shouldn’t say anything publicly.

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Chappelle said that he had to “say something” and discussed his own experience during the Northridge Earthquake of 1994, saying that he was “certain that I might very possibly die.”

The comedian said that the earthquake “couldn’t have been more than 35 seconds” - then brought up how Floyd “knew he was going to die” over the course of the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that Chauvin knelt on his neck.

Chappelle said, “Can you imagine that?...He called out for his mother. He called out for his dead mother. I’ve only seen that once before in my life - my father, on his deathbed called for his grandmother.”

“When I watched that tape, I understood this man knew he was going to die,” Chappelle continued.

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He also criticised the behaviour of the policemen in the video of Floyd, pointing out that they had their “hands in their pockets” throughout.

Chappelle said, “People watched it, people filmed it and for some reason that I still don’t understand, all these f***ing police had their hands in their pockets.”

“Who are you talking to? What are you signifying? That you can kneel on a man’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldn’t get the wrath of God? That is what is happening right now,” Chappelle continued.

He also discussed the words of CNN anchor Don Lemon, who publicly called out celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and more for failing to say anything about what had happened.

Chappelle continued that he had talked about this issue before in the past, then said Lemon “expects me to step in front of the streets and talk over the work these people are doing as a celebrity.”

Addressing his audience, Chappelle said, “Answer me, do you want to see a celebrity right now? Do we give a f*** what Ja Rule thinks?”

“This is the streets talking for themselves. They don’t need me right now. I kept my mouth shut and I’m still keeping my mouth shut, but don’t think that my silence is complicit,” he continued.

“Why would anyone care what their favourite comedian thinks after they saw a police officer kneel on a man’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds? I can’t get that number out of my head because it was my time of birth on my birth certificate. I was born at 8.46 in the morning and they killed this n*** at 8 minutes and 46 seconds,” he said.

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Chappelle later said that he had “figured out” why people wanted to hear from him though.

He said, “The only reason people wanna hear from people like me is because you trust me. You don’t expect me to be perfect. I don’t lie to you. I’m just a guy. And I don’t mind either. Every institution that we trust lies to us.”

The live audience at Chappelle's show was filmed being temperature checked prior to entry, with many seen wearing masks as they watched him amidst America's rules on social distancing and mandatory masks.

Chappelle’s Netflix special can now be watched on Netflix’s comedy channel Netflix is a Joke on YouTube and on Instagram - meaning that viewers do not require a subscription to watch it.

The YouTube video description includes a line from Chappelle, who wrote, “Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand”

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