Louis CK and Dave Chappelle nominated for Grammys again | Judges overlook controversies dogging comedians

Louis CK and Dave Chappelle nominated for Grammys again

Judges overlook controversies dogging comedians

Supposedly cancelled comedian Louis CK has been nominated for another Grammy – alongside Dave Chappelle for the stand-up special that infuriated transgender activists.

Voters on America's Recording Academy drew controversy earlier this year when they honoured CK’s Sincerely, Louis with the highly coveted accolade for best comedy album, despite his admission to a chain of sexual misconduct after women he targeted came forward to expose it.

Now he has been nominated for the 2023 award for Sorry, the album he recorded at New York’s Madison Square Garden last summer.  At the time, it was criticised for an apparently flippant response to his behaviour, especially in its title.

Meanwhile, the audio version of Chappelle’s controversial Netflix special The Closer is also up for best comedy album, having previously won the accolade in three consecutive years from 2018. Last year he was honoured in the spoken word category for 8:46, his raw response to the killing of George Floyd.

LGBT rights group GLAAD slammed the comic for the material on his latest release, saying: ‘Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people.’

This year’s Grammy shortlist is an all-male affair with stalwarts Jim Gaffigan and Patton Oswalt, and newcomer Randy Rainbow also nominated.

Gaffigan and Oswalt have both now been nominated seven times, with Gaffigan now recognised for his Comedy Monster album and Oswalt for We All Scream. Rainbow, who shot to fame via viral videos, is shortlisted for his musical comedy album A Little Brains, A Little Talent.

The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on Sunday February 5 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles

Published: 15 Nov 2022

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