Chappelle Takes on L.A. Wildfires and Woke Culture in SNL Appearance [WATCH]

As the nation grapples with significant challenges, from the release of hostages under a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the upcoming inauguration of a new president, comedy found a moment to shine.

This past weekend, Dave Chappelle took the stage on Saturday Night Live, delivering a monologue and skits that drew laughs from both sides of the aisle.

Chappelle, 51, known for his sharp humor and unfiltered commentary, opened the show with a 16-minute monologue that touched on a range of sensitive topics, including the wildfires in Los Angeles.

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He joked about his hesitation to appear on the show, saying, “The moment I said yes, L.A. burst into flames.”

Chappelle acknowledged the challenges of joking about a catastrophe, saying, “It’s a tough one because I’m tired of being controversial. I’m trying to turn over a new leaf. And it is way too soon to be doing jokes about a catastrophe like that.”

However, he didn’t shy away from taking risks, poking fun at conspiracy theories surrounding the fires.

“There’s just too many factors. If you were a rational-thinking person, you have to at least consider the possibility that God hates these people Sodomites!” he joked.

Chappelle followed it up with a punchline: “But that’s not true because West Hollywood was unscathed. How can you burn what is already flaming?”

Dave Chappelle’s monologue! pic.twitter.com/qSkjGsfnv1

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 19, 2025

In one of the standout sketches of the night, Chappelle played a father forced to evacuate his home due to a wildfire alert.

His character shocks his wife, played by Ego Nwodim, and son, played by Devon Walker, by smashing a wall with a sledgehammer to retrieve $500,000 in cash and a counterfeit passport.

“Don’t worry about where I got my money. Ain’t no time to explain. Let’s just go!” Chappelle’s character frantically exclaimed.

The absurdity escalated as the sketch unfolded, with comparisons being drawn to Monty Python’s classic scene in The Holy Grail.

The over-the-top silliness struck a balance between dark humor and outright hilarity, earning praise from audiences.

Saturday Night Live, often criticized for leaning heavily into partisan politics, appears to be reviving its reputation for balanced satire.

In recent months, the show has begun targeting a wider range of figures and topics, a shift that some fans have welcomed.

Chappelle’s appearance served as a reminder of the show’s ability to deliver laughs amid tense times.

As the country enters a new political chapter with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, many viewers are curious about how SNL will navigate the second Trump presidency.

For now, the plea from many is clear: bring on the humor, but perhaps leave Alec Baldwin’s Trump impression in the past.

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