World News – US – Netflix removes Chappelle’s show after Dave Chappelle asked to do so

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Comedian Dave Chappelle managed to remove his old sketch comedy program Chappelle’s Show from Netflix after requesting the streaming service as the original rights owner ViacomCBS started licensing it without his permission.

The news means that Netflix subscribers will no longer have access to the three seasons of the show that originally aired on Comedy Central. Netflix first launched the show on Jan.. November and is no longer recognizable on the platform from Tuesday afternoon. Netflix declined to comment.

Chappelle’s show aired on Comedy Central on ViacomCBS from 2003 to 2006, and the program has been broadcast on other cable networks via syndication deals in recent years. It was also available through Comedy Central’s own website and app, but more recently through streaming services like CBS All Access (also a ViacomCBS property), HBO Max, and Netflix. Chappelle has a controversial relationship with the program after abruptly ending it during production of its third season, and he does not own the rights to it, despite it bears his name.

However, Netflix also has a lucrative contract with Chappelle for comedy specials and other programming that began in 2016 and is worth tens of millions of dollars. The Wrap reports that Chappelle’s continued relationship with Netflix is ​​why the streaming service decided to honor its request and get its old show off the platform. The show will continue to be available on CBS All Access and HBO Max starting Tuesday.

Chappelle mentioned his frustration with the recent licensing deals surrounding Chappelle’s show in his Saturday Night Live monologue earlier this month. The comedian posted an 18-minute clip entitled « Unforgiven » on his Instagram account today.

In the clip, Chappelle referred his request to Netflix and said, « I called them and told them it made me feel bad. And you want to know what they did? They agreed that they would take it off their platform just so I could feel better. « He also mentioned the decision to stream Chappelle’s show » in order to fight stolen goods. ”

Here is the segment of Instagram video that starts at around the 11-minute mark related to the Netflix request:

People think I made a lot of money on Chappelle’s Show. When I left this show I never got paid. They didn’t have to pay me because I signed the contract. But is that correct? I found out that these people were streaming my work and never had to ask me or never have to tell me. Completely legal because I signed the contract. But is that correct? I didn’t think so either.

That’s why I enjoy working for Netflix. I enjoy working for Netflix because when all these bad things happened to me, that company didn’t even exist. And when I found out they were streaming « Chappelle’s Show » I was furious. How could they not have known?

Do you know what I did? I called them and told them it made me feel bad. And you want to know what they did? They agreed that they would take it off their platform just so I could feel better. That’s why I fuck with Netflix. Because they paid me my money, they do what they say they will and they have exceeded anything that can be expected of a businessman. They did something just because they thought I might think they were wrong.

And I do – I think if you damn well do streaming you are showing that you are fencing stolen goods. They stole that from me. They just took it. And I’m not here to tell you guys that I think Comedy Central gave me a raw deal just because I’m black. I think they gave me a raw deal because this damn industry is a monster.

Chappelle’s Show, Dave Chappelle, Netflix