Dave Chappelle Tells San Francisco Crowd That the City Needs ‘A Batman’

Dave Chappelle had some jokes aimed at his San Francisco during a surprise show last weekend. On Thursday (May 11), the 49-year-old held a special set at the SF Masonic Auditorium and aimed at the city’s growing homeless population. The show was announced just two days in advance.

“What the f*** happened to this place?” Chappelle asked the crowd, according to SFGate.

The comedian went on to tell a story about visiting an Indian restaurant in the Tenderloin a few evenings before, but witnessed a person defecating in front of the business as he was walking in. Chappelle asserted that San Francisco has become “half ‘Glee,’ half zombie movie,” also claiming that the entire city has become like his experience at the Tenderloin. “Y’all n***** need a Batman!” he joked.

Elsewhere during the event, guests hounded Chappelle to recite his old jokes and punchlines like “I’m rich, b****!,” to which he declined. Despite having a reported net worth of $60 million, Chappelle told the crowd he doesn’t feel rich, explaining that no amount of money can make him feel rich as a Black man in America. Recently, the Yellow Springs, Ohio resident purchased dozens of acres of land in the area, which was originally intended for home development.

SFGate noted that The Closer comedian evaded his controversial past comments on the LGBTQ+ community, which led to a walkout of Netflix employees in 2021. Instead, Chappelle kept the jokes relatively modest, discussing his onstage attack at the Hollywood Bowl last year, the infamous Oscars slap, and the response to his alleged antisemitic remarks in his Saturday Night Live monologue.

Dave Chappelle Stand-Up Monologue - SNLwww.youtube.com

In July, Chappelle will host all three nights of the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa Valley.