Dave Chappelle to headline Grand Casino Arena in support of ‘communities in crisis’
Stand-up comic Dave Chappelle will perform at St. Paul’s Grand Casino Arena on Feb. 16 as a “statement of respect, unity and unwavering support for the region’s residents” during the ongoing ICE presence in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.
Tickets go on sale at noon Tuesday via Ticketmaster. Hip hop duo Clipse will open.
The comedian’s decision to perform in Minnesota “exemplifies his decades-long commitment to showing up for communities in crisis and using comedy as a force for connection and solidarity,” according to a news release. “The people of Minneapolis and St. Paul have stood up with remarkable courage and resilience, demanding accountability and justice in the face of extraordinary circumstances.”
Chappelle, 52, rose to fame as the star of Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show,” which ran for 28 episodes in the early ’00s before Chappelle quit, despite blockbuster ratings. One of the most famous sketches featured Eddie Murphy’s brother Charlie recounting a late-night basketball game with Prince. The Purple One loved it and made references to it online.
After the end of “Chappelle’s Show,” the comic mostly stepped out of the spotlight, but returned to regular touring in 2013. That fall, he performed four nights at First Avenue followed by two more at the nearby Pantages Theatre.
In 2022, Chappelle announced a last-minute series of shows at First Avenue that led to an online backlash due to the comedian’s numerous jokes about transgender people. The four performances were ultimately moved to the Varsity Theater. Chappelle made his St. Paul arena debut the following year at the former Xcel Energy Center.
While Chappelle has raised controversy over the years, he’s also been vocal in his support of various causes. He’s a longtime financial contributor to his high school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. In August, he hosted a special preview screening of his documentary “Dave Chappelle Live in Real Life” at the 23rd annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Proceeds from the event benefited the school’s programming and equipment upgrades and established an endowment for the theater department.
Next week, he’ll join fellow comic Jon Stewart for a live event in Ohio that will raise funds for a community-owned public radio station in Yellow Springs, where Chappelle has lived since 2004.
Chappelle has filmed a series of specials for Netflix and was reportedly paid $24.1 million for 2021’s “The Closer,” which he said will be his last stand-up special for the foreseeable future. He has since released two more specials for the streamer in 2023 and 2025.
No cell phones will be allowed during Chappelle’s performance. Attendees are asked to leave their phone at home or in their car. Those who do bring their phones inside the venue will be required to secure them in a Yondr pouch. Audience members can access their phones at designated stations in the lobby, but will be ejected from the venue if caught using their phone at their seat.
