Comedian Dave Chappelle goes all ‘Yang Gang’ for the 2020 hopeful in Columbia
On the surface, star comedian Dave Chappelle’s roughly one-hour routine was exactly what one would imagine — rife with language and jokes not suitable for print delivered between jabs at President Donald Trump and his Ukraine call now at the center of the Senate’s impeachment trial.
But it was more than that, illustrated by audience members adorned with “Yang Gang” pins and “MATH” (Make America Think Harder) hats that are synonymous with 2020 Democratic candidate Andrew Yang’s presidential campaign.
Yang has “fantastic ideas,” Chappelle told a near sold-out crowd at Township Auditorium in Columbia Wednesday night, mentioning he doesn’t too often wade into politics on stage.
On stage and before his show at Yang’s Columbia’s headquarters, Chappelle backed Yang’s ‘Freedom Dividend” proposal to give Americans $1,000 a month.
“And I don’t know about you, but I already know what I’m going to do with my $12,000,” said Chappelle, reported by the Post and Courier.
Earlier this month, Chappelle endorsed Yang’s 2020 bid, quickly hitting the campaign trail by holding comedy show fundraisers for Yang as the candidate travels across Iowa where a much more competitive presidential ground game is playing out. On Wednesday, Chappelle appeared with openers Michelle Wolf and Donnell Rawlings.
He will hold two more shows Thursday in North Charleston.
No phones were allowed during the show, including for reporters covering the fundraiser. And, at one point before Chappelle hit the stage, reporters were told by security to stop taking notes.
Ahead of his routine Wednesday, Yang stopped at the campaign’s Columbia headquarters to speak to and call supporters.
Chappelle said yes when asked whether he thought Yang could win over undecided S.C. voters.
But it wasn’t all undecided voters who turned out Wednesday night to see Chappelle.
The audience included Democratic lawmakers who have endorsed other candidates, at least one Republican lawmaker and legislative staffers.
But for the diehard Yang backers, the show was more than comedy for them.
“He (Yang) means cultural diversity,” said Red Bank’s Kathy Rollins, 42, who repeatedly yelled “Yang Gang (expletive) into the crowd as they exited Township Auditorium and told The State, “I’m the only southern Chinese redneck you’ll ever meet in your life.”
“This is the man,” she said. “This is cultural diversity.”
