Dave Chappelle hits back at Bill Maher as he slams host’s 'smug' commentary: 'F**k that guy'

Dave Chappelle pushed back at Bill Maher for calling him out over his comments on free speech while performing in Saudi Arabia
PUBLISHED DEC 21, 2025
Dave Chappelle criticized fellow comedian and political commentator Bill Maher in his surprise Netflix special 'Dave Chappelle: Unstoppable' (Getty Images)
Dave Chappelle criticized fellow comedian and political commentator Bill Maher in his surprise Netflix special 'Dave Chappelle: Unstoppable' (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Dave Chappelle criticized fellow comic and political commentator Bill Maher in his new Netflix special, ‘Dave Chappelle: Unstoppable.’

He called Maher’s recent remarks ‘smug’ and expressed frustration over Maher’s past comments about his performances and views on free speech.

Chappelle’s remarks, which include repeated profanity aimed at Maher, have triggered reactions across the entertainment world after the special unexpectedly appeared on Netflix.

Dave Chappelle takes aim at Bill Maher’s commentary

Netflix released ‘Dave Chappelle: Unstoppable’ on Friday, Dec 19, surprising Chappelle's fans.



In the special, Chappelle criticized ‘Whites,’ comparing the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Martin Luther King Jr.

He also responded to Maher, who had called him out for his comments on free speech while performing in Saudi Arabia.

“Bill Maher, the famous comedian. I’ve known Bill since I was like 18, 19 years old, and I’ve never said this publicly, but f**k that guy,” Chappelle said.

He added, “I’m so f**king tired of his little smug cracker-a** commentary.”

Late-night host Bill Maher Talks about David Larry on the set of
Dave Chappelle’s remarks were aimed at Bill Maher (Screenshot/Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)

The remarks drew both laughter and applause from the audience.

Bill Maher rips Dave Chappelle

Chappelle was one of a number of comedians to face backlash over performing in the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. While performing, Chappelle claimed it’s “easier to talk here than it is in America.”

On ‘Real Time,’ Maher slammed Chappelle for the comment and dared him to put Saudi Arabia’s speech laws to the test by joking about the Prophet Muhammad.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 06:  Dave Chappelle attends the Netflix FYSEE Kick-Off at Netflix FYSEE at Ral
Dave Chappelle attends the Netflix FYSEE Kick-Off at Netflix FYSEE At Raleigh Studios on May 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California (Getty Images)

“Dave Chappelle said it was in the press today, saying that you can speak more freely over here than in America. I don’t know if that’s true. Oh it’s not true! Do your hunk on Muhammad, Dave!” Maher had said.

“Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled,” Chappelle said, according to The New York Times. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out.”

Chappelle defended his comment but also slammed cancel culture in the United States, citing the backlash he faced for “transgender jokes.”

“I didn’t tell them to put this in the paper. I just said it on stage,” he said, adding, “Don’t forget what I just went through.”

He then joked, “But I gotta tell you something: transgender jokes went over very well in Saudi Arabia.”

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Dave Chappelle attends the Opening Night Party presented by NETFLI
Dave Chappelle attends the Opening Night Party presented by NETFLIX IS A JOKE at W Hollywood on April 28, 2022 in Hollywood, California (Getty Images)

Chappelle and other comedians, including Bill Burr, received criticism for participating in the Saudi Arabia comedy festival. Chappelle responded to this criticism as well.

“They said, ‘Well, Saudi Arabia killed a journalist’ and rest in peace Jamal Khashoggi,” he said. “I’m sorry that he got murdered in such a heinous fashion. And also, look bro, Israel’s killed 240 journalists in the last three months so I didn’t know y’all were still counting.”

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