Hannah Gadsby Calls Out Netflix Over Dave Chappelle Controversy: 'You Don't Cuddle Up To Power'

Comedian Hannah Gadsby was popular in Australia before her 2018 comedy special “Nanette” debuted on Netflix and made her a household name.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she openly discussed her feud with controversial comedian Dave Chappelle and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

After Chappelle received criticism for his Netflix comedy, “The Closer,” Ted Sarandos named Hannah as some of the diverse content that the streaming service provides.

Hannah clapped back on Instagram, writing, “Hey Ted Sarandos. Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view.”

She continued, “You didn’t pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted. F--- you and your amoral algorithm cult.”

When asked about her comments, Hannah doubled down, saying, “So that’s how you speak truth to power. You don’t cuddle up to that. You don’t cuddle up to power.”

When asked if it hurt her relationship with Netflix, Gadsby replied, “Well, on their terms, it shouldn’t, because it’s my artistic expression. And if they don’t like it, perhaps Netflix isn’t the right place for them to work. There is no line in comedy, according to Netflix. So everything I say is a joke. So if they don’t like what I’m saying, then perhaps they don’t believe what they’re saying entirely.”

She said that Netflix has a line “and it’s the bottom line. It has nothing to do with their culture. It’s just what’s going to make the money, and that doesn’t inspire me. I wouldn’t have written a show like Nanette, if that was what motivates me.”

When asked if there are more Netflix specials in her future, Hannah replied, “There’s a lot of chat. I don’t sit down with Ted, do I? Probably not now.” She joked that “He might be a little scared of me,” adding, “Rightly so, Ted. Rightly so.”

Given the controversy, Hannah said she is “of two minds” about repairing a relationship with Netflix.

“One thing is people have Netflix. And so maybe putting content on that [platform that] is not so deeply transphobic would be a good space to put my work,” she said. “I’m not motivated by where my work is on a streaming service. I’m a performer. Netflix has given me the opportunity to build my audience, which I’m grateful for, but I’m not beholden to.”

“I don’t know where I am at the moment, because I’m on tour and I can only do one thing at a time, but like most things in this world, it’s not black and white,” she added. “There’s no right decision, no wrong decision.”

Although Dave Chappelle is a controversial figure in comedy, so is Ricky Gervais. He has received criticism for his own Netflix special that he released earlier this year.

When asked if she had ever crossed paths with Gervais, Hannah replied, “No. He didn’t have to do stand-up by the time I started. His sort of U.K. world was pre-mine, but I’m aware of his comedy, if that’s where you’re building to.”

When asked what she would say if she ran into him at an awards show, Hannah replied, “I’m the sort of person where it wouldn’t matter because people don’t talk to me.”

“I really have a f----off energy and I really enjoy it. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to talk to him because I just don’t think there’s any point,” she added. “He’s made up his mind. He doesn’t seem like a nuanced thinker. I don’t think we could solve the issues backstage at an awards show. He’s set. There’s no changing his mind. So why bother?”