Jon Stewart defends Dave Chappelle: ‘His intention is never hurtful’

Their relationship is nary joke.

Jon Stewart is coming retired successful defence of longtime pal Dave Chappelle aft helium was accused of making transphobic remarks successful his new Netflix drama special, “The Closer.”

Stewart, 58, told TMZ Thursday that Chappelle, 48, is “one of my favourite radical connected the planet” and that his intentions are “never hurtful.”

Chappelle has been nether occurrence since the merchandise of “The Closer” earlier this month, successful which helium declared himself to beryllium a “trans-exclusionary extremist feminist” (TERF).

“They canceled JK Rowling — my God. Effectually, she said sex was fact, the trans assemblage got huffy arsenic s–t, they started calling her a TERF … I’m Team TERF,” helium quipped successful the stand-up special.

“Gender is simply a fact. Every quality being successful this room, each quality being connected Earth, had to walk done the legs of a pistillate to beryllium connected Earth. This is simply a fact.”

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos initially defended Chappelle, earlier Netflix employees staged a walkout earlier this week. Sarandos present says helium “screwed up” handling his workers’ complaints.

Now, Stewart has weighed successful connected the ongoing scandal, lasting by his beleaguered pal.

Chappelle and Stewart execute unneurotic onstage successful 2018.Getty Images for Pilot Boy

Speaking with TMZ, helium described Chappelle arsenic “warm,” “wise” and “decent.”

“Look, if this spurs a speech wherever radical get much connected the aforesaid leafage successful presumption of understanding, that’d beryllium great, but I cognize his volition is ne'er hurtful — like, he’s conscionable not that benignant of person,” Stewart said.

“And if it is [hurtful], it’s surely unintentional … He’s truly a bully man.”

Stewart and Chappelle person been friends for years, and the brace performed unneurotic successful Ireland backmost successful 2018.

In 2019, Stewart paid tribute to Chappelle arsenic helium was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

On Thursday — the aforesaid time Stewart defended his person — reports surfaced that Chappelle was willing to conscionable with transgender employees astatine Netflix.

Chappelle has been embroiled successful contention since the merchandise of “The Closer.”Mathieu Bitton/Netflix

Chappelle would beryllium unfastened to dialog if Netflix employees scope retired to him for a heart-to-heart discussion, his representative told TMZ.

But nary 1 from Netflix oregon the worker radical that led the unit walkout has contacted Chappelle oregon his squad astir mounting up a meeting, according to the rep.