Instead of Chappelle’s name, the theater at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington will be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.
Chappelle announced the decision at a dedication ceremony for the venue, according to a report from the . Over the last few months, the entertainer has stirred controversy with transphobic comments and jokes that have drawn criticism from civil rights groups and students at the school. During Monday’s dedication ceremony, Chappelle said he decided to decline the honor because he did not want his name to distract from the students‘ work at the school.
