Comedian Hannah Gadsby to host genderqueer Netflix special following Dave Chappelle transphobia row
Genderqueer comedian Hannah Gadsby. (Photo by WireImage/Don Arnold)
Hannah Gadsby has signed a deal with Netflix to showcase genderqueer voices from around the world in a stand-up comedy special.
Gadsby believes the hour-long episode will “broaden the scope of opportunities for genderqueer performers”.
The Emmy-winning lesbian comedian will produce and host a multi-comic special showcasing performers of all gender identities that will be taped during her Body of Work world tour in Sydney.
It comes a year after Gadbsy slammed Netflix as an “amoral algorithm cult” after co-CEO Ted Sarandos went to great lengths to defend anti-trans comedian Dave Chappelle and his transphobic ‘comedy’ special The Closer.
Chappelle made crude ‘jokes’ at the expense of trans women, defended JK Rowling and declared himself ‘Team TERF’ in The Closer sparking fury and outrage from the LGBTQ+ community.
The 44-year-old Hannah Gadsby, who rose to fame with their Netflix special Nanette, posted on Twitter to share their excitement about filming their new “feel-good show”.
They wrote: “I am chuffed to announce that Netflix has agreed to work with me on a stand up special that will showcase queer gender voices from around the world.
“I won’t lie… this made my decision to do a third solo special with them a little easier.”
Gadsby confirmed they will be filming the show while on tour at Sydney Opera House, where they joked they are “back at the scene of the Nanette ‘crime’”.
Filming will begin tomorrow (28 September) and end on Thursday (29 September), before Gadsby takes her show on to New Zealand.
I am pretty excited to be filming my new ‘feel-good show’, Body of Work, at the Sydney Opera House…yep…I’m back at the scene of the Nanette ‘crime’. The shebang of it all will premiere on @netflix….at some point… in the future, I suppose. pic.twitter.com/P53tDfqoqC
— Hannah Gadsby (@Hannahgadsby) September 26, 2022
They added: “The shebang of it will premiere on Netflix…at some point…in the future, I suppose. It’s hard to say exactly because time is a flower and algorithms are boring.”
The Independent reported that the new show will feature six new gender-diverse comedians and has been curated by Gadsby with the aim of opening the door she had to “fight to get through”.
They said: “In a notoriously transphobic industry, I am looking to broaden the scope of opportunities for genderqueer performers from around the globe, as well as expand the diversity of offerings to audiences on one of comedy’s biggest platforms.”
Hannah Gadsby said they will offer a “mentorship initiative” for the up-and-coming comics, and noted the show “aims to foster the professional development of a demographic that is still struggling to have their voices heard”.
