Comedian Dave Chappelle gets warm Ohio welcome at HOF Stadium show in Canton

CANTON − Dave Chappelle drew big laugh after big laugh Sunday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with jokes about Will Smith and Chris Rock, marriage advice to a couple seated near the stage, the speed of a transgender swimmer, and what he would do if ever elected Ohio governor.

An Ohio theme was constant in his roughly one-hour standup routine. Chappelle still calls Yellow Springs, Ohio, home, where he spent part of his childhood.

He warmly praised Ohio several times and gave a heartfelt greeting to Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown. Chappelle said Brown was in attendance.

Chappelle drew a large crowd at the venue, which holds about 23,000 for football games but fewer for other events. When the famous funnyman stepped in front of the bright lights after other standups, including Marshall Brandon, Michelle Wolf and Donnell Rawlings, the stadium was largely full.

The local stop was part of the comedian's "In Your Dreams" tour.

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Cellphone use prohibited in performance space for 'unplugged, real life experience'

The event was touted as a phone-free experience. Use of cellphones was not permitted in the performance space. Attendees could secure their phones in individual Yondr pouches that were then opened at the end of the event.

Guests also could access their phone during the show in designated areas. The policy was intended to create an "unplugged, real life experience," according to information posted through Ticketmaster.

Anyone seen using a cellphone during the performance would be escorted out of the venue by security, which happened at least once when a man was caught recording video near the end of the show.

"How do you have your phone, bro?" Chappelle asked defiantly. "... Come on, I didn't ask much. I love you, bro, and I hate what you did."

'I saw my friend, Will, slap my friend, Chris.'

Intermittently dragging on a cigarette and sipping from a red plastic cup, Chappelle, who is known for his highly-successful Netflix comedy specials, humorously interspersed the names of some big stars into Sunday’s show, including retired boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Chappelle drew bursts of laughter when cracking jokes about the time he spent at Mayweather’s Las Vegas strip club, while amusingly emphasizing his wife’s lack of jealousy.

Chappelle said his wife didn't even get mad when he spent too much money at the strip club.

"How could she get mad?" Chappelle said, raising his voice dramatically. "It's not like she's earning the money."

He spent considerable time on the subject of actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars a few months ago. Chappelle shifted between humor and insightful commentary on the effect the highly-publicized incident has had on Smith.

"That (expletive) was like the Space Shuttle blowing up," he said of the media attention devoted to Smith's slap.

"I saw my friend, Will, slap my friend, Chris," Chappelle continued. "That (expletive) was something. The war stopped for three minutes in Ukraine."

Chappelle makes transgender swimming jokes at Canton show

Chappelle, meanwhile, has triggered controversy himself, drawing backlash last year for jokes he made related to the LGBTQ+ community in a Netflix show, including transgender people. He referenced the controversy numerous times, noting that he doesn’t have a beef with the group.

Last month, Chappelle switched venues for his Minneapolis show after the original club drew backlash for hosting him, USA Today reported.

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First Avenue, which planned to host Chappelle's performance, announced hours before the comedian was set to step on stage that he'd take his show to the Varsity Theater, another Minneapolis venue, instead.

During Canton's show, Chappelle joked about transgender swimmers in an apparent reference to Lia Thomas, telling men in the audience they could swim a lot faster if their penis was removed. The remarks filled the stadium with laughter.

In March, Thomas, of the University of Pennsylvania, became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle event.

Chappelle's upcoming shows include appearances in Yellow Springs this month. He's also scheduled to perform with fellow comedian Chris Rock in Liverpool, Great Britain, and at Wembley Stadium in London in September at a Taylor Hawkins tribute concert. Two shows in the Netherlands are also set for next month.

Canton's show was the first time the stadium has hosted a comedian, an example of the high-profile bookings the Hall of Fame Village has been landing for the venue. Chappelle took the stage a night after the rock band Journey headlined the Concert for Legends during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

Gov. Dave Chappelle's first proposal: Outlaw the Amish

Chappelle performed in front of a video image of the logo of his brand. Video screens flanking the stage, and at the opposite ends of the stadium, projected his every move.

Later in the show, he got more laughs when suggesting he should be a write-in candidate for Ohio governor.

"That would be the wildest (expletive) that ever happened," he said.

His first legislative proposal: Make it illegal to be Amish. Chappelle said he was puzzled by the reluctance of Amish to use modern technology.

"All you want to do is make cheese," he said to roars of laughter, which carried from those in front of the stage to the highest stadium seats.

"Has there ever been a Black Amish?" he said, grinning at his own words. "I want to join them."

Chappelle's marriage advice: 'I do the cheating.'

Throughout the show, Chappelle joked with a couple seated near the stage, Brock and Emily, who are expecting their first child.

Chappelle offered them "things you've got to remember and you'll stay married forever."

Among his tips: Cry about your mistakes only for a day or two.

Of being a husband, Chappelle observed: "In marriage, I don't count."

Another rule: To keep his marriage strong, Chappelle said he cheats, which drew one of the loudest laughs all night.

"I do all the cheating," he said, chuckling as he delivered the line. "But somehow I'm the jealous one."

And since his wife doesn't care he's cheating, "that means she is," Chappelle added to howling laughter.

Fans thrilled to have Chappelle in Canton

Prior to the event, a few attendees interviewed said they were thrilled that a comedian of Chappelle's stature was performing locally at a premiere venue in the Canton area.

Corey Burton, 50, of Canton, who runs a power washing business, described Chappelle as being "real down to earth."

"He's one of my favorites," Burton said. "He's kind of like Martin Lawrence."

Chappelle cracks jokes about every group in society, the fan said. "He hits all the corners."

Of the stadium show presented by Hall of Fame Village, Burton said: "It's great. I just think we need a little more of it."

Shawn Coon, 33, of Louisville, said Chappelle is among the best comedians ever.

"He's been relevant for the last three decades," he said.

Of the controversies, Coon said, Chappelle uses humor as an art.

London Detweiler, 21, of Canton, said he and his friends purchased Chappelle tickets soon after they went on sale.

"He splits his humor up to kind of make fun of everyone," he said. "No one's safe."

Detweiler's friend, Alex Denney, 21, of Canton, said he's waited for a long time to watch Chappelle live.

"To see a legend like him is once in a lifetime," he said. "I think he's the biggest (comedian) right now."

Of Chappelle's style of humor, Denney said: "I think he's using the art of comedy and saying things people want to say ... but it's funny, it's true and it's something that people relate to. He makes reality comedy."

Acclaimed comedian

Chappelle is an acclaimed comedian, having received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2019.

His work in standup comedy, writing, producing and acting have earned him recognition and numerous nominations in television and film.

Chappelle also has appeared on "Saturday Night Live," while receiving Emmy awards for his comedy specials. His comedy albums have received Grammy awards. The celebrity also drew record high viewership on Netflix for a comedy show.

Chappelle was criticized last year for a Netflix comedy, "The Closer," in which he attempted to juxtapose the pace of civil rights gained by LGBTQ+ people over those fought for by the Black community, according to USA Today.

The comedian also has been rebuked by some for his jokes about the transgender community.

"They canceled me after I did 'The Closer,'" he said Sunday night.

In May, Chappelle was attacked on stage by an audience member during his set for the Netflix Is A Joke Fest in Los Angeles. The suspect was charged with assault with a deadly weapon after pointing a replica handgun containing a knife at Chappelle, the newspaper said.

Chappelle had the crowd erupting in laughter when joking about the incident, although he also said it was ”very scary.”

Citing media reports about his attacker having experienced homelessness, Chappelle quipped: "I have to tell you, for a homeless guy, this (expletive) had really good seats."

"When I read he's bisexual, I was like, oh my God, I could have been raped."

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At the end of Sunday’s performance, Chappelle was given an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Before departing, he expressed both a serious and sentimental message to the residents of his home state, imploring them to trust one another.

"Keep being good to each other, and have courage when you deal with (each other)."

"Stay strong, stay blessed, stay aware," Chappelle said. "Thank you very much."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Dave Chappelle in Canton: Jokes about Will Smith, stage attack