Dave Chappelle Returns To Host SNL, Skewers Kanye, the Election, Trump, and Adidas

Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue on Saturday Night Live tackled Kanye “Ye” West’s antisemitic comments, as well as Donald Trump and the midterm elections.

The comedian began by reading a statement he said he prepared. “I denounce antisemitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community,” he said, before adding, “And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”

Chappelle spent much of his set taking aim at West and how the rapper and fashion mogul thought he was untouchable until Adidas, among other business partners, dropped him after a series of antisemitic comments posted to social media. “Ironically, Addias was founded by Nazis and even they were offended,” he said.

Chappelle also discussed the controversy around Kyrie Irving, who recently was suspended from the Brooklyn Nets for at least five games after he shared a link to the documentary Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America — a film that contains antisemitic sentiments.

“He was slow to apologize,” the SNL host said of the NBA star. “The demands to get back in their good graces got longer and longer, and this is where I draw the line: I know the Jewish people have done some terrible things all over the world, but you can’t blame that on black Americans. You just can’t.”

discussing the midterms, the comedian primarily focused on Herschel Walker and how some news organizations feel like the Trump era is over, but he claims that’s not the case. He went on to explain that living in Ohio, he gets a firsthand look at Trump’s fanbase, saying “he’s very loved. And the reason he’s loved is because people in Ohio have never seen somebody like him.”