Dave Chappelle has hit back at media coverage of his transgender jokes, claiming his comedy is frequently taken out of context and misunderstood. 

Speaking on a recent episode of the IMO podcast, the stand-up veteran insisted that the public perception of his work as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community is incorrect. 

He argued that instead of a personal feud, his sets represent a wider negotiation of culture and corporate interests. 

Chappelle urged his critics and the media to allow for a “margin of error” in live performance, noting that the unique atmosphere of a comedy club is often lost when transcribed into news reports.

The comedian explained that the environment inside a comedy club is far more diverse and collaborative than outsiders might realise. 

He noted that every imaginable perspective is represented on stage, including transgender, Black, white, and Asian performers, all of whom champion their own opinions without seeking to silence one another.

According to Chappelle, comedians spend their time off-stage discussing different cultural lenses and points of view, a nuance he feels the media fails to capture. 

He expressed frustration at how his work is portrayed, stating that nothing makes a comedian angrier than seeing their jokes “read wrong” in the papers.

For Chappelle, the intention behind a comedy show is fundamentally different from a serious political statement. 

He described stand-up as a process of playing with the building blocks of culture, breaking them down to see what works and what doesn’t. 

He maintained that for any art to reach a level of greatness, the artist must be allowed the space to get things wrong occasionally. 

He suggested that many of his most vocal critics are like people with their faces pressed against the glass, commenting on a world they aren’t actually part of or participating in.

The clarification comes as the star prepares for a string of high-profile performances at the Hollywood Palladium from 7-9 May as part of the Netflix Is a Joke Fest. 

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding his material, Chappelle remains a central figure in the festival’s line-up. 

His latest comments suggest he has no plans to change his approach, as he continues to defend the comedy club as a space where all perspectives can be challenged and explored through humour, provided the audience understands the experimental nature of the craft.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is set to release the first batch of UFO and alien files in a few days.

The documents about the potential UFO encounters were sent to the interagency committee assembled by the White House for review and they will be released to the public “in the near future”.

In an interview with the Sean Hannity podcast, the FBI Director Kash Patel said, “We already delivered our first tranche of information to that committee and they’re going to be publicly releasing this information very soon. We are all for it. There’s nothing in this subject that we’re talking about that we don’t want released.”

He added that since the Department of War under the leadership of Secretary Pete Hegseth was overseeing the release of files, the FBI has handed over the documents to the relevant team at the Pentagon.

Patel said he had no information on whether the U.S. government had ever recovered alleged extraterrestrial bodies from fallen UFOs, adding, “Public wanted documents, we gave them to the relevant authorities and they are coming out.”

United States President Donald Trump directed the government agencies to declassify the files in February 2026. 

In a Truth Social post, President Trump said, “Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War and other relevant departments and agencies to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life.”

Kyle Loftis, the founder of viral automotive media platform 1320Video, passed away on Tuesday night, his outlet confirmed.

No details surrounding the cause of death have been released yet.

Loftis built 1320Video.com into one of the most recognisable names in online car culture, growing a global audience of nearly 4 million YouTube subscribers and over 6.4 million Facebook followers, since its early days in 2003.

His platform is widely known for its raw coverage of drag racing, roll racing, dyno runs, car meets and underground street racing scenes.

1320Video describes itself as a group of automotive enthusiasts documenting “street cars” and travelling internationally to showcase unique builds, drivers, and car cultures.

Over the years, its content reached more than 10 million fans across platforms, solidifying its place in modern motorsport media while also drawing controversy for its focus on street racing content that often pushed legal boundaries.

Tributes poured in from the team following the death of Loftis, describing him as a central force in the platform’s identity and growth.

In a statement on Facebook, the 1320Video.com said, “We are extremely saddened to share that Kyle Loftis, the founder of 1320video, passed away last night. We are in a state of shock.”

The statement continued, “Kyle’s passion for motorsports inspired millions of people around the world and we will never forget what he has done to grow our beloved sport. Kyle was a beam of light at every gathering… his enthusiasm, kindness, and creativity was contagious.”

It concluded with: “Let us pray that Kyle is in a better place.”

Representatives did not provide further details..