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Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti-Hero’ Holds Atop Hot 100, Drake Debuts 8 Songs in Top 10

Taylor Swift‘s “Anti-Hero” adds a third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, boosted by seven new remixes released between Nov. 7 and Nov. 10. Two weeks ago, the song soared in at the Hot 100’s summit, as Swift made history as the first artist to hold the survey’s entire top 10 in a single frame.

Meanwhile, Drake blasts in with eight debuts in the Hot 100’s top 10, including seven with 21 Savage, as the pair’s collaborative LP Her Loss launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

With Drake having claimed nine of the Hot 100’s top 10 spots on the chart for a week in September 2021 (concurrent with the chart start of his album Certified Lover Boy), he is now the only artist to have logged at least eight songs in the top 10 twice.

Plus, Drake extends his record total to 67 career Hot 100 top 10s.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data. All charts (dated Nov. 19, 2022) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Nov. 15). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

In the Nov. 4-10 tracking week, “Anti-Hero,” released on Republic Records, tallied 51.3 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 37%), 31.1 million streams (down 13%) and 327,000 sold (up 1,793%), according to Luminate.

The single surges 4-1 on the Digital Song Sales chart; falls to No. 9 after two weeks atop Streaming Songs; and jumps 14-9 on Radio Songs (which, as previously reported, is now based on Mediabase-monitored airplay data).

Swift scores her record-extending 25th Digital Song Sales No. 1 with “Anti-Hero,” which also takes top Sales Gainer honors on the Hot 100, sparked by seven remixes made available for purchase during the tracking week. Joining the song’s previously available original and instrumental versions, its Bleachers remix (explicit and clean) arrived Nov. 7 (first in Swift’s webstore, followed by its wide release at 12 a.m. ET Nov. 8). Its Roosevelt remix was released Nov. 9 (in Swift’s webstore, followed by its wide release Nov. 10), while its Jayda G remix, Kungs remix (including its extended version) and an acoustic version were all released Nov. 10. All versions of the song were discounted to 69 cents between 2:30 p.m. ET and midnight Nov. 10 in Swift’s webstore, and between 4 p.m. ET and midnight Nov. 10 at all other retailers; all were available for wide release, except for the Kungs extended remix and acoustic version, between 10 p.m. ET and midnight Nov. 10.

The song’s sum of 327,000 paid downloads makes for the biggest sales week for a song in over five years, since Swift’s own “Look What You Made Me Do” bounded in with 353,000 (Sept. 16, 2017). “Anti-Hero,” which debuted with 13,000 sold and moved 17,000 in its second frame, logs the largest third-week sales total for a track since Adele’s “Hello” (480,000, Nov. 28, 2015, after it sold a weekly record 1.1 million downloads and 635,000 in its second week).

“Anti-Hero” concurrently becomes Swift’s 16th Radio Songs top 10, and first since “ME!,” featuring Brendon Urie (No. 7, May-June 2019).

Drake roars in with eight debuts in the Hot 100’s top 10, including seven with 21 Savage, with all from their new collaborative album Her Loss.

Here’s a recap of the eight tracks new in the Hot 100’s top 10 – all by Drake and 21 Savage unless otherwise noted:

  • No. 2, “Rich Flex”
  • No. 3, “Major Distribution”
  • No. 4, “On BS”
  • No. 5, “Spin Bout U”
  • No. 6, “Pussy & Millions” (feat. Travis Scott)
  • No. 7, “Privileged Rappers”
  • No. 8, “Circo Loco”
  • No. 9, “BackOutsideBoyz” (Drake)

The eight songs above line up in the same order, infusing Nos. 1-8, respectively, on Streaming Songs, led by “Rich Flex” with 58.9 million streams. The total is the second-highest for a song this year, just below the 59.7 million that Swift’s “Anti-Hero” drew in its first week (Nov. 5).

“Rich Flex” begins as Drake’s record-padding 15th Streaming Songs No. 1 and 21 Savage’s third.

“Rich Flex” was also the top-selling Her Loss track in its first week (2,600), while “Circo Loco” drew the most all-format radio audience of any song on the set in that span (5 million), followed by “Rich Flex” (3.1 million).

In one swoop, Drake ups his career count from 59 to 67 Hot 100 top 10s, extending his record total (dating to his first top 10, “Best I Ever Had,” in 2009) over the chart’s 64-year history.

Notably, of his 67 Hot 100 top 10s, Drake has notched a likewise-record 49 as a lead artist. (Swift has been credited as the lead artist on all 40 of her top 10s, while Madonna ranks third with 37 top 10s as a lead act, among her 38 total.)

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

  • 67, Drake
  • 40, Taylor Swift
  • 38, Madonna
  • 34, The Beatles
  • 32, Rihanna
  • 30, Michael Jackson
  • 29, Elton John
  • 28, Mariah Carey
  • 28, Stevie Wonder
  • 27, Janet Jackson
  • 26, Justin Bieber
  • 25, Lil Wayne
  • 25, Elvis Presley (with the start of Presley’s career having predated the Hot 100’s inception)

Meanwhile, Drake becomes the only artist to have logged at least eight songs in the Hot 100’s top 10 twice, plus as many as seven concurrent top 10s in three distinct weeks. Prior to this week’s haul of eight top 10s courtesy of Her Loss, he posted nine alongside the chart arrival of his album Certified Lover Boy in 2021 and seven as Scorpion made its chart entrance in 2018.

Also thanks to Her Loss, 21 Savage boasts the fourth-most simultaneous Hot 100 top 10s.

Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s:

  • 10, Taylor Swift, Nov. 5, 2022
  • 9, Drake, Sept. 18, 2021
  • 8, Drake, Nov. 19, 2022
  • 7, 21 Savage, Nov. 19, 2022
  • 7, Drake, July 14, 2018
  • 5, Juice WRLD, July 25, 2020
  • 5, The Beatles, April 11, 1964
  • 5, The Beatles, April 4, 1964

In the rundown above, the Hot 100 has sported six instances of acts having amassed five or more simultaneous top 10s since July 2018, after only The Beatles had achieved the feat in two distinct weeks in 1964. As streaming has ascended in prominence in recent years, the select acts above have run up such lofty totals in weeks that high-profile albums of theirs have arrived. The model contrasts with prior decades, when acts generally promoted one single at a time in the physical-only marketplace and on radio. That shift in consumption also helps explain certain acts having swelled their career top 10 totals to historic highs over relatively short spans in recent years.

21 Savage more than doubles his career Hot 100 top 10 total, from six to 13. He logged his most recent top 10 before this week as featured on Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks,” which became his second No. 1 and Drake’s 11th, and latest, leader upon its debut in July.

Thanks to his featured turn on the chart’s sixth-biggest song, Travis Scott earns his 11th Hot 100 top 10.

Meanwhile, “Rich Flex” premieres at No. 1 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100. Drake dominates the rankings with a record-extending 26th and 27th track, respectively. 21 Savage leads each list with a fourth title.

Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” drops from No. 3 to No. 10, three weeks after it ascended to No. 1. The collaboration claims the chart’s top Airplay Gainer award for a second week, up 39% to 56.7 million impressions, as it flies 12-5 on Radio Songs. Smith notches their sixth Radio Songs top 10 and first since “Dancing With a Stranger,” with Normani, became their second No. 1 in 2019. Petras reaches the Radio Songs top 10 in her first trip to the tally.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Nov. 19), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Nov. 15).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

The Ultimate 2022 World Cup Playlist: Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, & More

It’s officially World Cup month, and Billboard has compiled the ultimate playlist for soccer aficionados around the world. 

The playlist is over two hours long and includes 45 jams to celebrate fútbol, including Ricky Martin’s “Cup of Life,” the official song of the 1998 event held in France and Shakira‘s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for the 2010 World Cup in Africa. The former peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998, and the latter peaked at No. 38 on the Hot 100 dated July 3, 2010. 

Also on the playlist are soccer-related bops by Carlos Vives and Camilo (“Baloncito Viejo”); Jason Derulo and Maluma (“Colors”); Will Smith, Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi (“Live It Up”); and Akon (“Oh Africa”), to name a few. As well a handful of officials songs for the 2022 World Cup released by FIFA such as “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” featuring Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and Aisha, which fuses R&B and reggae influences, and “Arhbo,” a feel-good collaboration between Ozuna and French-Congolese rapper Gims named after the local slang word for “welcome” in Qatar and embodies the welcoming spirit of the Arabian country.

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The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Nov. 20 with host nation Qatar’s tournament opener against Ecuador. A total of 32 teams, representing different countries, will participate. In the end, one is crowned the World Cup champion on Dec. 18. 

Below, listen to the playlist. (You can find Billboard‘s updating list of 2022 World Cup songs here.)

Travis Japan’s Debut Single ‘JUST DANCE!’ Launches at No. 5 on Global Excl. U.S. Chart

Japanese boy band Travis Japan recently made J-pop history when its debut single “JUST DANCE!” bowed at No. 5 on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Billboard launched two global charts in September 2020, based on worldwide audio and video streams and download sales from over 200 territories. The Excl. U.S. chart focuses on territories outside the U.S. Travis Japan’s “JUST DANCE!” dropped Oct. 28 and launched on the chart dated Nov. 12., making the seven-member Johnny’s group the first Japanese act to break into the top five with a debut single since the chart’s inception.

Here’s a list of other J-pop hits that have charted in the top 10 of the Global Excl. U.S. tally:

Artist / Title / Date of Chart / Peak Position
LiSA, “Homura,” Oct. 31, 2020, No. 2 
YOASOBI, “Yoru ni kakeru,” Jan. 30, 2021, No. 6
Ado, “New Genesis,” Aug. 27, 2022, No. 8
Kenshi Yonezu, “KICK BACK,” Oct. 29, 2022, No. 4

Travis Japan’s debut number becomes the fifth title on this list. The breakout boy band recently performed at the YouTube FanFest 2022 event in Singapore that took place Nov. 11.

Elton John Announces Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee & Brandi Carlile Will Join Him on Final North American Performance

Elton John is saying goodbye, but not without a little help from his friends. As announced Monday (Nov. 14) in a new teaser trailer, the 75-year-old legend will bring Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile onstage with him for “Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium,” his final North American performance ever.

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The three-hour concert will be live-streamed at 11 p.m. EST Nov. 20 on Disney+, meaning the 50,000 fans at Dodger Stadium will make up just a fraction of the fans who get to watch Sir Elton as he plays his decades-worth of hit songs one last time in North America. And it’s only right that Lipa and Dee are joining him during the show, as the two have served as featured artists on a couple of the icon’s biggest smashes — nearly 50 years apart.

Earlier this year, Elton teamed up with the “Levitating” singer for a mashup of his older hits “Rocket Man,” “Sacrifice” and “Kiss the Bride” remixed by Pnau, which became his first UK No. 1 in 16 years. Five decades before that, Dee was the co-vocalist on his blockbuster duet “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in 1976.

Carlile has also collaborated with the “Your Song” singer, releasing “Simple Things” with John last year as part of his Billboard 200 Top 10 album The Lockdown Sessions. The two are longtime friends, and Carlile even hosted hosted the 30th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in March.

Before the farewell concert officially begins, a “Countdown to Elton Live” event will take place on the livestream. According to a release, some of the Grammy winner’s famous friends from around the globe will be featured, along with interviews with Elton John and his husband, filmmaker David Furnish.

After the concert, an hour-long iHeartRadio TV special, “Elton John’s Thank you to America: The Final Song,” will broadcast nationwide on Monday, November 21 at 1 a.m. EST. It’ll look back on legendary moments from Elton’s career and include a live simulcast of his final song and closing remarks from the Dodger Stadium show. 

Watch the new trailer for Elton John’s farewell concert featuring Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile above.

The Weeknd Is Thinking About Pulling ‘Trilogy’ Compilation From Streaming Services, Maybe

We live in an age when nothing is ever the last word. That appears to be The Weeknd‘s thinking when it comes to his beloved Trilogy project. The collection originally dropped in Nov. 2012, a year after the then-enigmatic singer released a series of three intriguing mixtapes, House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence.

Trilogy whipped together remastered and remixed versions of 30 songs, including lead single “Wicked Games,” which topped out at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the time, though, a number of the samples and mixes from the original mixtapes were reworked because of an inability to clear the samples for Trilogy; in March 2021 the singer re-released the original version of House of Balloons with the original mixes and samples for the first time to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

“if y’all wanna hear the trilogy how it’s supposed to be listened to … listen to House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence individually,” the singer tweeted. “Not all samples are on trilogy and the mix isn’t the original mix. But shout out trilogy but fyi, for the new fans, it isn’t an album.” He then dropped a bit of news, suggesting that he might “get rid” of the compilation “just so there’s no more confusion, now that ALL the samples are finally cleared since Dec. 17, 2021.”

The collection’s songs feature a number of prominent samples. including Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Happy House” on “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls,” as well as Beach House’s “Master of None” on “The Party & the After Party” and the Cocteau Twins’ “Cherry Coloured Funk” on “The Knowing.” But in a sign that the idea of wiping Trilogy from streaming services might have ben a fleeting thought, a short time later Abel seemed to immediately reconsider his historical revisionism.

“But I also know there are fans of the compilation so I might not get rid of it,” he tweeted. “But just want to be clear for all the new fans and the weirdly older fans.”

House of Balloons was released as a free download from The Weeknd’s official website on March 21, 2011, before it was combined with his other 2011 mixtapes Thursday and Echoes of Silence for Trilogy, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2012.

See Weeknd’s tweets below.

Billy Corgan Has Laryngitis, Smashing Pumpkins Cancel Portland Show

The Smashing Pumpkins have had to cancel one of its recent shows. In a statement posted to the band’s official Instagram on Sunday (Nov. 13), the rock band revealed that its Portland concert — scheduled to take place at Moda Center that day — was canceled after lead singer Billy Corgan came down with laryngitis.

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“It is with great disappointment that tonight’s show in Portland, OR has been cancelled due to laryngitis. William, Jimmy, James and Jeff are deeply saddened but this decision was not made easily and was far beyond their control,” the statement read. “They look forward to returning to you all next summer. Refunds will be available at your point of purchase.”

A rescheduled date has not yet been announced.

Following the announcement, Corgan gave fans an update about his condition via his personal Instagram account. “At the voice doctor. Lots of love,” he captioned a pictured of himself giving an optimistic thumbs-up, with Portland as his geotag.

The Smashing Pumpkins are on its joint Spirits on Fire tour with Jane’s Addiction. The 32-date trek kicked off on Oct. 2 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, and made stops in Houston, Austin, Tampa, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Toronto, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, Denver and Vancouver before its Portland stop.

The bands have four more dates left in the tour starting on Nov. 15, before concluding at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Nov. 19.

See the Pumpkins’ and Corgan’s instagram posts below.

GAYLE Spills the Tea on How Taylor Swift Asked Her to Open for The Eras Tour: ‘I Feel Like This Is a Dream’

GAYLE went to the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 13) and dished about how she ended up as an opener on Taylor Swift‘s upcoming Eras Tour.

“Obviously I’ve known about Taylor, for forever, like my whole entire life — I can’t remember a time where I didn’t know Taylor Swift,” the teen sensation told Entertainment Tonight from the red carpet in Düsseldorf, Germany. “My best friend and I went to [an] awards show and Taylor Swift happened to be there, and I did a performance and some very cool things happened after that.”

The awards show she’s referring to was September’s Nashville Songwriter Awards, where she performed her breakout hit “abcdefu,” which was voted one of the 10 “songs I wish I’d written” by the NSAI Professional Songwriter Members. Honored as the organization’s Songwriter-Artist of the Decade, Swift also happened to be in attendance at the show, and the pair ultimately snapped a cute selfie together.

“She was just like, ‘You did a great performance — I’m gonna call you,’” GAYLE went on. “Now I’m here, and I can’t believe it. I feel like I’m lying. I feel like this is a dream. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

GAYLE is one of many openers on Swift’s tour — including Paramore, Beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red, MUNA, HAIM, Gracie Abrams and OWENN — but don’t expect to hear a Taylor song in her own setlist for the shows. “I’m not gonna do a Taylor Swift cover, I feel like for obvious reasons,” she told ET. “She does it all great. I can’t do it any better.”

Harry Styles Helps Pregnant Fans Reveal Their Babies’ Sex During Concerts: Watch

Harry Styles had the crowd at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum in the palm of his hand Friday (Nov. 11). During his Love on Tour concert, one fan convinced the 28-year-old pop star to make a huge announcement on her behalf — reveal the sex of her baby on the way — and he absolutely reveled in creating suspense before delivering the news.

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“She’s about to do the single hardest thing in the world there is to do,” Styles began. “I’m sure it’s going to be fine — the most beautiful thing there is to do in the world!”

The Grammy winner also checked with the fan named Sydney on how far along she was: four months. “Are you sure you want me to do this?” he continued. “Los Angeles, this is a Friday night you will never forget.”

“Can I please get some tense gender reveal music,” he added to his band. Slyly twirling and dancing around the stage, Styles had his audience contribute to the anticipation by leading them in a round of “Ooooohs.”

“I know something you don’t know!” he teased. “What do you want it to be? OK, here we go. This is … very nice. Something for the fourth album, perhaps.”

“This is called edging,” he said, drawing out the moment once again, before finally announcing the news. “It’s … a … girl!”

The “As It Was” singer has been stationed at the Forum for about three weeks, performing a residency of 15 shows at the venue in support of his May-released third studio album Harry’s House. One could argue, though, that he’s now beginning a residency of conducting reveals for parents-to-be, as he did a second one just one night after Sydney’s.

On Saturday (Nov. 12), an expectant mom once again asked an obliging Styles to reveal her baby’s sex. “‘Tis the season for gender reveals, we had one last night!” he proclaimed, taking a sealed envelope from the fan named Shawna.

Once again, Styles drew out the suspense for as long as he could.

“How much longer would you like me to make this go on for?” he asked Shawna. “It’s a girl!”

Watch Harry Styles’ recent baby reveals at the Kia Forum below:

2022 Latin Grammys: Complete List of Performers, Presenters, How to Watch & More

The 2022 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony is taking place Thursday (Nov. 17) live from the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The telecast will air on Univision at 8 p.m. ET, and it will also be available on HBO MAX.

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Colombian powerhouse performer Karol G and king of bachata Romeo Santos have been added to the roster of performers of the 23rd annual ceremony. Additional artists performing for the first time are Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients Xavier Cintrón, Valentina García, Nicolle Horbath and Sergio de Miguel Jorgequera, who will join Latin Grammy winner Nicky Jam on stage.  

The three-time Latin Grammy-nominated Karol G is up for record of the year and song of the year for “Provenza,” as well as for best urban song with “MAMIII.” Romeo Santos is nominated for best long-form music video for his documentary Romeo Santos: King of Bachata; as the frontman of Aventura, he garnered a nod for best urban fusion/performance. 

On Sept. 20, the Latin Recording Academy announced this year’s nominees, with Bad Bunny leading the way with 10 nods. Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera followed closely with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro with eight; and Christina Aguilera, Jorge Drexler and Tainy with seven. Last year’s big winner, Camilo, garnered six nominations this year. 

Performers 

The following artists are among those who are confirmed to take center stage at the 2022 Latin Grammy Award Show: 

  • Ángela Aguilar
  • Aymée Nuviola
  • Banda Los Recoditos
  • Camilo
  • Carin León
  • Carlos Vives
  • Chiquis
  • Christian Nodal 
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Elvis Costello
  • Gente de Zona
  • Goyo
  • Jesse & Joy 
  • John Legend
  • Jorge Drexler
  • Julio Reyes Copello
  • Karol G
  • Los Bukis 
  • Marc Anthony
  • Marco Antonio Solís
  • Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández
  • Nicky Jam
  • Nicole Zignago
  • Nicolle Horbath
  • Rauw Alejandro
  • Romeo Santos
  • Rosalía
  • Sebastian Yatra
  • Sergio de Miguel Jorgequera
  • Silvana Estrada 
  • Sin Bandera
  • Valentina García
  • Xavier Cintrón

Presenters

  • Adrián Uribe
  • Alison Solís
  • Becky G
  • Cami
  • Eden Muñoz
  • Farina
  • Fito Páez
  • Fonseca
  • Georgina Rodríguez
  • Kany García
  • KURT
  • Ludmilla
  • Luis Figueroa
  • Luisa Sonza
  • Macarena Achaga
  • María Becerra
  • Marla Solís
  • Miguel Ángel Muñoz
  • Tainy
  • Victor Manuelle
  • Yalitza Aparicio

Hosts

  • Anitta 
  • Luis Fonsi
  • Laura Pausini
  • Thalía 

Person of the Year 

  • Marco Antonio Solís

Prior to the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy will honor Mexican icon Marco Antonio Solís as Person of the Year. The gala in his honor will take place the day before, on Wednesday, Nov. 16. “Marco Antonio Solís is a living legend and one of the most emblematic figures in Latin music,” Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, said in a statement.

How to Watch

The telecast will air on Univision Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET. It will also air on cable channel TNT and on Televisa Channel 5. The ceremony will also be available on HBO MAX in Spanish only. 

Dave Chappelle’s ‘SNL’ Monologue on Antisemitism Slammed by ADL Leader: ‘Why Does Our Trauma Trigger Applause?’

Saturday Night Live has reliably tapped Dave Chappelle three times to offer some of his patented unfiltered commentary following recent major national elections. But this weekend the leader of a prominent Jewish civil rights group said the envelope-pushing stand-up went too far in an opening monologue in which he took on the recent rash of antisemitic statements and controversies surrounding rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye) and suspended NBA player Kyrie Irving.

“We shouldn’t expect @DaveChappelle to serve as society’s moral compass, but disturbing to see @nbcsnl not just normalize but popularize #antisemitism,” tweeted ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt of the 15-minute show opener that critics said perpetuated Jewish stereotypes while seemingly attempting to humorously demystify them. “Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma trigger applause?”

Chappelle — who has repeatedly courted criticism in a series of stand-up specials in which he engaged in what critics have labeled hurtful transphobic and homophobic stereotypes — opened the bit by unfolding a piece of paper and reading a statement. “I denounce antisemitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community,” he said. “And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”

Chappelle then reeled off a series of recent incidents in which Ye has been accused of antisemitism and the harsh responses to his actions and words while joking that in his 35-year career in comedy he learned one very important lesson: never say the words “the” and “Jews” in sequence. It was one of several lines that amplified a Jewish stereotypes instead of decrying in a manner that many Jewish leaders and commentators did not find amusing during a time of heightened antisemitic sentiment. The provocative Lenny Bruce-style mono was repeatedly undercut when the bit steered directly into the same dark territory Chappelle thought he was shining a light on according to critics.

“I’ve been to Hollywood and — no one get mad at me — I’m just telling you what I saw… It’s a lot of Jews,” Chappelle whispered. “Like a lot.” Chappelle then doubled and tripled-down on his line of logic, suggesting that the “delusion that Jews run show business” is not a “crazy thing to think,” but that “it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this.” The suggestion that the thought is okay, but the action is not got even more muddled when Chappelle pivoted to another recent antisemitic controversy surrounding Nets player Irving.

In the comedian’s telling, despite the persecution of Jews all over the world, “you can’t blame that on Black Americans,” a stunning line that drew silence from the normally raucous studio audience; Irving has been suspended by the Nets after posting a link to an antisemitic, Holocaust-denying film and then refusing to apologize for his actions. The Jerusalem Post succinctly summed up their feelings about the Chappelle monologue in a tweet that read, “Chappelle said during his SNL monologue that he ‘denounces antisemitism in all its forms’… before promptly engaging in antisemitic stereotypes.”

His opening was also denounced by Carly Pildis, a contributor to Jewish magazine The Forward and director of community engagement for the ADL, who said Chappelle’s mono was off-base because it merely further stoked the flames of division. “Here is the thing, Dave Chapelle wants to joke about antisemitism but he isn’t living with the consequences of it,” she wrote. “Antisemitic incidences are at a historic high in America, but that doesn’t get mentioned. Probably cause it’s not actually funny. It’s scary as hell.”

NPR TV critic Eric Deggans said he wasn’t sure what a professional athlete posting a link to an antisemitic film with no context and then taking “several long days” to disavow the film’s anti-Jewish content has to do with whether you can “blame” Black Americans for the plight of Jewish Americans. “What I do know, is that one of comedy’s boldest and most incisive voices had a chance to lend insight to the long struggle Black America has had with antisemitism,” Deggans wrote. “But instead, his monologue seemed filled with justification and minimization – failing to mention, for instance, allegations that Ye has expressed admiration for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.”

In April, the Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitic behavior nationwide, reported a 34% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 (to 2,717), which averaged out to more than seven such incidents per day. At press time it did not appear that Chapelle had reacted to the criticism of his SNL monologue and a spokesperson for the comedian had not returned a request for comment.

See Greenblatt’s tweet below.