My point is, I can’t win over there because I don’t play; I don’t participate. You can’t buy me, not because I’m not for sale, but because I’m not in the store. He only ate the… he didn’t say anything about any of these white guys. None of these white guys did what that cat was talking about, but he didn’t mention anything they did to him. Race isn’t where the line is drawn; it’s about God’s side and the other side.
Remember how, back in the day, Dave Chappelle used to make fun of Diddy all the time on the Chappelle Show? Well, fast forward to now, and there are all these rumors flying around about Dave possibly switching sides and cozying up with all these shady industry characters he used to criticize. Just like Cat Williams, Dave used to be all about calling out the industry elites, but now it seems like he’s dodging the real issues, and even his standup routines aren’t hitting like they used to. People are saying he’s resorting to cheap shots in his jokes, punching down and picking on easy targets.
But wait, there’s more drama. Dave was spotted hanging out with Diddy shortly before Cassie dropped her lawsuit back in November, and so far, Dave hasn’t said a word about Diddy’s recent scandals. Fans are feeling let down by this big change from Dave being all outspoken about the dark side of the industry, and a lot of folks are scratching their heads about why Dave is suddenly friends with Diddy.
Looks like Cat Williams had some thoughts to share about everything going on, so let’s get into it. Cat wanted to hold people accountable who haven’t been held accountable before. In every job, there’s some level of accountability, and part of your pay reflects how well you can handle that. They can’t just give you a football contract without expecting you to slip up a bit. I’m sure many of you have seen Cat’s viral interview on Club Shay, where he talked about Dave Chappelle turning down that $50 million deal from Comedy Central. Cat mentioned he had to turn down some big-money deals too because of the strings attached. He even hinted that Diddy’s deals might have similar catches.
Dave Chappelle walked away from $50 million. You said it was more; tell us the story.
That’s right. I’ll let you tell it.
No, you’re the best at this. I want you to tell it. You’re proving it today. Until you understand what happened to him, you don’t get the full picture. It wasn’t just that he turned down $50 million. Who would turn down that kind of money? I’ve had to turn down $50 million four times myself, just to protect my integrity. And that virgin hole I was telling you about, right? Because P. Diddy wants to party, and you have to say no. I did. I have the receipts for everything I’m telling you, which is why I can say it.
Now here’s a twist. While Cat praised Dave Chappelle, it turns out Dave didn’t appreciate it. During a recent standup gig, Dave called out Cat for exposing fellow black comedians. But before we dive into that, let’s talk about Dave Chappelle’s unexpected friendship with Diddy.
Word on the street is that Dave and Diddy are now close, and fans are surprised, especially since Dave used to mock Diddy on the Chappelle Show. “Here, bad boy artist, here. But if you want to do it first, you have to walk to Queens and bring me a sugar cookie.” He played games like our annual photo flip. “Oh damn, little teeth, got dolphin teeth. He always says he doesn’t want anyone to see him shine, but he looks shiny to me. He looks like Malcolm X before he converted to Islam.”
Given Dave’s history of making fun of Diddy, fans were eager to hear his thoughts on the recent allegations against Diddy. Another reason for the interest is that Dave has always been vocal about the shady stuff happening in Hollywood. After he turned down a massive $50 million deal from Comedy Central and went to Africa, he made it clear on Oprah’s show that he wasn’t just walking away from the money but also from the craziness that comes with that level of fame and fortune.
Oprah: “I’m glad you’re here. Everybody wants to know, why’d you walk away from $50 million?”
Dave: “Well, I wasn’t walking away from the money. I was walking away from the circumstances that were coming with the newfound plateau. I’ve heard the stories of what happens, and I’ve seen these kinds of things play out in front of me.”
Oprah: “What stories?”
Dave: “I mean, look, Mariah Carey made a $100 million deal, and three months later, she’s suddenly labeled as crazy. Or Martin Lawrence is seen waving a gun on the street, screaming they’re trying to get him… We hear those stories, and it always happens around the time when their careers are about to hit the next level.”
Oprah: “Would you say you lost your mind, sort of?”
Dave: “No, not exactly.”
Dave was basically saying he wasn’t interested in reaching the top because with that much money, people start trying to control you. You can see it now with Diddy’s situation; it looks like even bigger players might be pulling the strings, probably because they’re involved in the same shady things. That’s why Kanye mentioned Diddy, talking about how celebrities get blackmailed and manipulated by their handlers.
Kanye: “And this truth is going to be heard. Y’all can’t send none of y’all Meek Mills, y’all Puffies, y’all Lil Boosies. None of these names, none of these people that have to listen to y’all because they’re dealing with legal issues… I never killed nobody, right? I’m the one that never killed nobody, right? But that means I can say whatever I want and not go to jail.”
When Kanye started talking about the control over the entertainment industry, Dave quickly joined the conversation. His SNL monologue was pretty much all about Kanye. Besides that, Dave has talked before about how the industry big shots, the same ones Diddy is supposedly connected to, tried to control him and mess with his career. He even hinted once that to reach the top levels of fame, you have to do some questionable things for those in power, and he wasn’t speaking metaphorically.
When I took 12 years off, you put me right back on top when I came back, and I couldn’t thank you enough. You’ve kept me free, allowing me to avoid what so many of my colleagues have to deal with. I can’t imagine what they go through.
Naturally, when all the drama with Diddy blew up, fans were waiting for Dave Chappelle to chime in. Diddy has been accused of exploiting black people in the industry for years, and many thought someone like Dave would have something to say. But ever since Cassie filed her lawsuit against Diddy, Dave has been silent. While no one expects him to make a formal statement, you’d think he’d crack a joke or two about one of the biggest stories in Hollywood. But there seems to be more to Dave’s silence than meets the eye.
A recent Daily Mail article showed Dave and Diddy having dinner together shortly after Diddy was announced as the recipient of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award. According to the Mail, they were in good spirits and even left together in the same car. Does this mean Dave has sold out to Diddy? It’s surprising, especially considering Dave once turned down $50 million.
It’s important to note that when Dave and Diddy were seen dining together, Diddy reportedly knew about Cassie’s impending lawsuit. Rumors suggest Diddy tried to intimidate Cassie at the BET Awards by giving her a shout-out during his acceptance speech, which in hindsight seemed like a threat.
“Yeah, also Cassie for holding me down in the dark times, love.”
The timing of Dave having dinner with Diddy just before Cassie’s lawsuit hit the headlines is definitely raising eyebrows. How did they even become friends, especially with Dave’s history of poking fun at Diddy on the Chappelle Show?
But there’s more to this whole Diddy and Dave saga. Not only is Dave hanging out with Diddy, but he’s also stirring the pot by calling out Cat Williams over his Club Shay interview. Dave accused Cat of targeting black comedians and suggested that Cat might be projecting his issues onto others in the industry. Despite acknowledging Cat as one of the best, Dave accused him of painting negative pictures of his fellow comedians.
These comments have sparked a storm among fans, with many pushing back by citing Cat’s deep line from Club Shay: “It’s not about race; it’s about which side you’re on: God’s side or the other side.”
“Race is not where the line is drawn; it’s God’s side and the other side, and we don’t care nothing about the other side.”
Cat’s fans are holding onto this quote and challenging Dave’s claims about Cat targeting black comedians. Meanwhile, there’s a wave of disappointment among Dave’s long-time fans. Many feel let down by Dave’s newfound friendship with Diddy. They saw Dave as a bold, principled comedian unafraid to stir things up, but now, with him cozying up to Diddy, it feels like a complete curveball.
And then there’s Cat Williams, who has made it clear that you’ll never see him doing anything strange for money because he doesn’t have a price tag on his name.
“I decided 20 years ago that I’m not going to wear makeup or get BOTOX, even though I know those things would make me look better. But I don’t really want to look better. What I want is for the Cat Williams you see in movies to be the same guy you see at the gas station. That’s what I was aiming for. Some fans think I’ve been blackballed. I heard a comedian say, ‘Yeah, but you see, Cat Williams isn’t selling soap or diapers because they think he’s been blackballed.’ But that’s not true. I don’t do sponsorships or endorsements, but not because I’m blackballed. The truth is, in 20 years, I’ve never gone to a commercial audition. I’ve never let my tour get sponsored, whether I was broke or not. I don’t accept free clothes; I dress myself. I don’t have a stylist. My point is, I can’t win in that space because I don’t play their game. You can’t buy me, not because I’m not for sale, but because I’m not even in the store. It’s different.”
Cat has made it clear he’s not for sale, and now fans are drawing comparisons to Dave Chappelle’s journey. How did Dave go from turning down a $50 million deal and exposing Hollywood gatekeepers to hanging out with Diddy and being afraid to speak out against the industry? One fan said, “Dave hanging out with Diddy makes you question him. If the industry tried to destroy you, why would you hang out with one of their gatekeepers?” Another added, “Dave Chappelle has either sold out or he’s not the same Dave from the Chappelle Show. SMH.”
What do you think about people calling Dave Chappelle a sellout, and why do you think he’s suddenly spending time with Diddy? Share your thoughts in the comments below