Comedian Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special Closer received 2 Emmy nominations despite the controversy over alleged transphobic jokes in the show. The Netflix original received backlash right from the time it started streaming on October 5, 2021. 

Netflix employees staged walkouts to stand in solidarity with the transgender community and demanded the stand-up special be taken down. 

However, Dave Chappelle came out with a response to the backlash in a live show. The comic declared that he was willing to meet the organisers of the walkout but refused to back down and apologise for the jokes. 

Even though the Closer controversy happened over a year ago, in light of the recent Emmy nominations, the critics of the show are once again expressing their shock and disapproval.

The stand-up special has been nominated under pre-recorded variety special and outstanding direction. It is up against Adele’s One night only and Norm Macdonald’s Nothing special for the pre-recorded variety special category.