Marlon Wayans defends Dave Chappelle friendship despite having trans son: ‘I know his heart’
Dave Chappelle and Marlon Wayans (Getty Images)
Marlon Wayans is opening up about balancing his support for his trans son with his longtime friendship with comedian Dave Chappelle, who has faced years of criticism over jokes about the transgender community.
In a 25 May interview with Variety, the actor and comedian said he doesn’t believe Chappelle’s comedy comes from “hate”.
“I wouldn’t hang with Dave if he was full of hate. I don’t hang with people like that,” Wayans said. “I know Dave’s heart, and his intention isn’t to punch down.”
Chappelle has repeatedly sparked backlash over material targeting trans people, particularly in his 2021 Netflix special The Closer, which prompted protests from LGBTQ+ advocates and a walkout by Netflix employees.
Wayans framed the controversy as part of a broader debate around comedy and censorship, saying: “You have to be a comedian to understand that.” He added that Chappelle “wants to freely tell his jokes”, and argued that the comedian has continued doubling down because he feels his work is under attack.
At the same time, Wayans emphasised that supporting his child remains deeply important to him. “I respect [Chappelle’s] journey. And as a friend, I respect his journey. And for my child, I respect their journey,” he said. “I’m between them, so I can explain both sides to each other.”
Wayans previously spoke about his experience learning that his son, Kai, was transgender, telling People in 2024 that it led to a period of personal growth and reflection. “Only thing that matters to me is that my child is happy,” he said at the time.
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