Dave Chappelle Makes Hartford Comeback One Year After Heckling

Dave Chappelle made a brave stage return to Hartford, Conn., on Saturday — free of boos.

The stand-up man surprised the audience of the Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival, where he was booed off the stage last year and later notoriously referred to the audience as “evil” and “young, white alcoholics.”

“I did not think I would ever come back to Hartford again,” Chappelle told the crowd, according to The Courant. “It was a year ago tonight. I had 364 nights to think about that fatal night, one year ago. … I was really immature about what happened.”

After being introduced by Louis C.K., Chappelle took to the Xfinity Theatre stage for a 16-minute set featuring jabs at celebrities and drugs, as well as his own failed appearance last year. “Are you sure this is Hartford? I swear to God, I thought you were going to boo me the minute I came out,” Chappelle said. “Boy, I wish you guys were here last year. … Since that fateful night last year, I’ve done 150 shows. All of them went well. And I say that to say this, in case the media’s watching: It was your fault.”

The formerly reclusive comedian has been hitting the stand-up circuit recently, following his much-analyzed exit from Chappelle’s Show in 2005 and subsequent public meltdowns and disappearance. His string of shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City featured Nas, The Roots, Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu as special guests — a run that was so popular it had to be extended twice.

Watch the video below:

Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleelee

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