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.”

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Catherine O’Hara posthumously won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series award for her role as Patty Leigh in 'The Studio'
53 minutes ago
Stars brought vintage-inspired glamour to the SAG Awards red carpet, delivering unforgettable fashion moments in Los Angeles
2 hours ago
Despite the 'Reimagining Hollywood Glamour from the '20s and '30s'' theme, Sarah Pidgeon and Emma Stone were among those who missed the mark
3 hours ago
Zendaya and Tom Holland, who first sparked dating rumors in 2016, reportedly got engaged during the holidays in late 2024
5 hours ago
Neil Sedaka, nominated for five Grammy Awards, delivered several hits, including 'Calendar Girl' and 'Bad Blood', throughout the 1960s and ’70s
2 days ago
The 24-year-old, born Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, is credited simply as Maddox Jolie in his new film 'Couture, where he worked as an assistant director
3 days ago
Bobby J Brown's family members revealed that he went into a barn to jump-start a vehicle when a fire suddenly broke out
3 days ago
Patrick Dempsey reflected on the heavy toll of losing loved ones, noting that he had already lost both parents and several friends over the past year
4 days ago
Xavier Trudeau said Katy Perry spoke with him for hours about his music, offering advice as he builds his R&B career under the name Xav
4 days ago
Katherine Hartley Short attended select public events with her father while largely maintaining a private life
5 days ago