Dave Chappelle reportedly criticized Katt Williams‘ viral Jan. 3 interview with Shannon Sharpe, in which Williams spoke openly about the state of comedy and bashed a number of Black comedians, including Kevin Hart and Steve Harvey.
During a set at the Hollywood Improv over the weekend, Chapelle accused Williams of only going after Black comedians. Though Chappelle has famously enforced a strict no-phone policy during his sets in recent years, clips from the evening have begun circulating on social media, per Variety.
“What part of the game is this? He only ethered n***as. He didn’t say anything about any of these white boys. None of these white boys function like that,” Chappelle said. “Katt is one of the best painters in the game. So why are you drawing ugly pictures of us? Stop.”
Williams made a number of incendiary comments against other comedians during his interview with Sharpe earlier this month. In addition to calling Hart an industry plant and accusing Cedric the Entertainer of stealing his jokes, Williams claimed that rapper Ludacris landed his role in the Fast & Furious franchise because he made a deal with the Illuminati.
During his set, Chapelle continued railing against Williams.
“Hurt people hurt people, but I am a hurt person that never hurt people, and he does it all the time: ‘Fuck this one, and fuck that one, and fuck this one,’” he said, impersonating Williams.
“But, n***a, I didn’t hear anything that you did wrong. He didn’t do nothin’ wrong? Katt didn’t do nothin’ wrong?” he said. “Katt was talking about shit that n***as did to other n***as, but not about anything that n***as did to him.”
Chappelle, who has faced considerable backlash over the years for doubling down on his anti-trans views, told the audience that “it would break your heart” to hear his life story. He said he “lost everything and never, ever told on anybody.”
He also questioned Williams’ comments, adding that “all of us are trying to be in a better situation.”
Hart recently refused to respond to Williams’ comments against him, though he did shade him on X.
“It’s not worth my time for a response or an engagement,” Hart recently told The Independent. “It’s extremely beneath me in the position that I’m currently in…I think those that can’t talk about those that can.”