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  • Dave Chappelle Says His Return to the Stage Is a ‘Healing Experience’

    Dave Chappelle says he is thrilled to be back on stage again.

    “It’s been wonderful,” Chappelle told People magazine Sunday at the 20th Annual Essence Festival in New Orleans. “Being back, what I’ve found this year is that everywhere I’ve gone, people have been overwhelmingly supportive.”

    The comedian sold out nine Radio City Music Hall performances last month and says he’s back where he belongs.

    The 40-year-old told the magazine he left his hit show, Chappelle’s Show, in 2005 because family took precedence over his career.

    “I never stopped being on stage. What I did was step off of the main stage,” he said. “That kind of attention wouldn’t have been conducive to raising a family.”

    Chappelle surprised the world when he gave up his $50 million dollar contract with Comedy Central to go explore Africa. Though he likely doesn’t regret his decision to leave the spotlight, the comedian still missed being on stage.

    “The audience-comedian relationship is one of the more consistent relationships in my life,” he said. “I started doing this at such a young age, that not doing it was alien. [Being back] has been a healing experience. I couldn’t even tell people what it means to me. It’s sincerely a pleasure to entertain.”

    In June, Chappelle made a stop by the Late Show with David Letterman and explained — sort of — why he left the way he did.

    “Technically, I never quit. I’m seven years late for work,” Chappelle jokingly told Letterman.

    The comedian also clarified some misconceptions about that infamous disappearing act to South Africa in 2005, stating that he never actually lived there.

    “I was there for two weeks,” Chappelle said. “I mean, there’s not too many good hiding places left in America.”

    Chappelle and his wife, Elaine, have two sons, Sulayman and Ibrahim, and daughter Sonal.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dave Chappelle Didn’t Know He Caused Such An Uproar

    Dave Chappelle was at the height of his success seven years ago with The Chappelle Show, a true hit for Comedy Central that resonated with fans and became a quotable, instant classic. But when the network offered the comedian a $50 million deal to renew his contract, he decided to walk away instead, taking a sabbatical to South Africa with nary a word to fans. Now, he’s back with a new stand-up show, and he spoke to David Letterman recently about his true feelings regarding the loss of all that money.

    “There’s not too many people that don’t think I’m crazy [for walking away from so much money]. I’m at a restaurant with my wife, it’s a nice restaurant, we’re eating dinner. I look across the room, I say, ‘You see this guy over here, across the room? He has $100 million.’ And we’re eating the same entree. So, OK, fine, I don’t have $50 million or whatever it was, but say I have $10 million in the bank. The difference in lifestyle is miniscule…money is the fuel for choices. Money gives me choices, so it’s not nothing, it’s something. But it’s not the end all, be all. There are other things in my life that I did not purchase with money that are very valuable,” Chappelle said.

    Chappelle said he had no idea that his fans and the media were in a frenzy over his departure, noting that the news didn’t really reach him in South Africa. He later moved to Ohio, where he still lives a relatively quiet life with his family.

    Chappelle did say that even though at the time it seemed like the right thing to do, he sometimes thinks about what he might have done with the money.

    “Of course I would like to have that money. Sometimes I listen to a Jay Z record, and it starts making me feel bad about some of the choices I’ve made. This guy has had more fun on two songs than I’ve had over the last 11 years,” he said.

    Chappelle recently added more shows to his Radio City Music Hall gig after the first ones sold out in mere minutes. He’ll be performing from June 18-26.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dave Chappelle: Looking Buff And Ready to Perform

    There have been several Dave Chappelle sightings over the past several months and everyone agrees, the usually reclusive funny man is looking quite buff. You may remember Chappelle as a lanky, tall glass of water. However, now it appears that he has been hitting the gym.

    Who knows why the the 40-year-old has been pumping iron. Perhaps the speculation is true and he’s getting in tip top shape to join Chris Rock on what would be one of the most sought-after comedy tickets around?

    Rumors began circulating last month when Chappelle performed a rare three-night set at the Comedy Cellar in New York City. Chris Rock joined Chappelle on stage and reportedly said, “You should come down to Palm Beach.” Chappelle replied, “After next Tuesday, I’m free for like 11 years.” Since that time, no further reports have surfaced.

    However, Chappelle is scheduled to perform at Radio City Music Hall June 18-22. Tickets are still available. It will be the first time in ten years that the comedian is doing a headline performance in New York City. Chappelle typically hops on stage well after midnight, usually unannounced at a club, and does a set without any publicity or fanfare.

    You may remember that Chappelle walked away from millions of dollars and his own sketch comedy show, Chappelle’s Show on Comedy Central back in 2005. The comedian explained his decision to leave the show in an exclusive interview with Time in May of 2005, “If you don’t have the right people around you and you’re moving at a million miles an hour you can lose yourself. Everyone around me says, ‘You’re a genius!’; ‘You’re great!’; ‘That’s your voice!’ But I’m not sure that they’re right.”

    Hopefully, Chappelle is able to launch a come back and live up to the comedy legacy he created in his sketch show. At the very least, he looks like he’s ready.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons