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Harry Fletcher
Feb 10, 2022
Dave Chappelle threatens to withdraw fortune from Ohio town over housing development
Village of Yellow Springs
Dave Chappelle has faced the ire of the internet once again, this time after he used his influence to torpedo an affordable housing project in Ohio.
The controversial comedian joined other residents of Yellow Springs in opposing the plan to build a new housing development, which would have allocated a 1.75 acre plot for affordable housing.
Instead, the Oberer Homes project was axed after the 2-2 vote, with the plans for 64 single-family homes, 52 duplexes and 24 town homes cut.
As a result, Oberer Homes will go ahead with its previous plan to construct 143 single-family homes.
Dave Chappelle personally came to a city council meeting and threatened to remove his $65m dollars of investments from his city if they allowed a developer to move forward with an affordable housing program. The objection wasn't to the build, but the affordable housing component. https://twitter.com/DwayneDavidPaul/status/1491449914521698307\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/l8MTxhhlJ7— grimm (@grimm) 1644435388
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The verdict came after a public meeting about the vote on Tuesday, which saw Chapelle threaten to withdraw investments in the town if the affordable housing plan was set in motion.
“I am not bluffing. I will take it all off the table,” he said.
Chapelle is planning to build a comedy club and a restaurant in the town, and he previously spoke in opposition of the plans in 2021.
“Obviously I live behind the development, or the proposed development. I do have many business interests in town,” he said during a town meeting. "I’ve invested millions of dollars in town. If you push this thing through, what I’m investing in is no longer applicable.”
The news has seen Chappelle heavily criticised online.
rich homeowner doing rich homeowner shithttps://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/1491443544782954498\u00a0\u2026— b-boy bouiebaisse (@b-boy bouiebaisse) 1644423401
man what the fuck has dave chappelle turned into— niles abston live in NYC (2/17-2/19) (@niles abston live in NYC (2/17-2/19)) 1644449977
Dave Chappelle really spitting fire and speaking truth to power -- by threatening to take his millions away from a small town if it provides affordable housing to working-class people.https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1491448789558865927\u00a0\u2026— Justin Baragona (@Justin Baragona) 1644436682
How and when did we get to the point where a comedian is considered a beacon of light for societal guidance when he goes out of his way to do something like this lolhttps://twitter.com/exilegrimm/status/1491496240214913029\u00a0\u2026— Ivie Ani (@Ivie Ani) 1644457128
dave chappelle helped kill an affordable housing component of a new development, i feel like i\u2019m losing my mind lolhttps://twitter.com/samtrayter/status/1491430035043291138\u00a0\u2026— flat earther kitt \ud83d\udc90 (@flat earther kitt \ud83d\udc90) 1644419831
Did not have "Dave Chappelle NIMBY's affordable housing" on my 2022 BINGO card, but I also can't say I'm that surprised.pic.twitter.com/tpQ7oA5jV2— Jerusalem (@Jerusalem) 1644436952
His positions on trans issues and now housing make it clear that, above all else, Dave Chappelle is a boring old boomerhttps://twitter.com/ExileGrimm/status/1491496240214913029\u00a0\u2026— James Medlock (@James Medlock) 1644444334
Chappelle is no stranger to controversy, and he previously spoke out after he was accused of being anti-trans over his Netflix special.
The comedian defended comments he made in stand-up special The Closer following a huge backlash, but said he would be happy to meet with members of the trans community to discuss his views further.
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