Dave Chappelle will become the first comedian to receive the President’s Award at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22.
The NAACP issued a statement Tuesday on their official Instagram page.
“Comedy legend and cultural icon @DaveChappelle will be honored with the prestigious President’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards, joining past recipients such as Spike Lee, Kerry Washington, and LeBron James,” the organization wrote.
The President’s Award is presented in recognition of significant achievement and outstanding public service, and is slated to air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8pm ET/PT on BET and CBS.
“Chappelle’s storytelling and thought-provoking comedy has sparked conversations, challenged perspectives, and pushed our culture forward. Salute to Dave for this well-deserved honor,” the organization said.
The comedian rose above backlash for his 2021 Netflix comedy show “The Closer” after offending some viewers with jokes critics claimed were targeted at transgender people. He responded to his critics at the time.
“It’s said in the press that I was invited to speak to transgender employees of Netflix and I refused,” the comedian said. “That is not true. If they had invited me, I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we’re speaking about. And if you want to meet with me I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions.”
“First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end,” he continued. “You must come to a place of my choosing and a time of my choosing.”
He also made it clear that he was “not bending to anybody’s demands.”
Now he is being awarded by the liberal organization in a moment of cultural significance.
“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement issued to Billboard.
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 21: Dave Chapelle attends the Dior Homme Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 21, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)
“Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress,” Johnson continued.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 19: Dave Chappelle speaks onstage at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) Getty Images
The broadcast of the 2025 NAACP Image Awards has been extended by a half-hour, for a total runtime of 2.5 hours.
Previous notable recipients include Ella Fitzgerald (1967), Lauryn Hill (1999), John Legend (2016), Jay-Z (2019), Rihanna (2020) and Usher (2024). (RELATED: White House Press Selects Queer, Anti-Racist ‘Comedian’ To Host Trump’s Correspondents’ Dinner)
Chapelle received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2019. His many accolades include six Grammy Awards for best comedy album and five Primetime Emmy Awards.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
