Dave Chappelle Tests Positive for COVID; Cancels All Shows

Comedian Dave Chappelle tested positive for the coronavirus just before his comedy show scheduled for Thursday, forcing his upcoming appearances to be canceled, a spokeswoman said.

Chappelle was expected to perform Thursday through Sunday at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas.

Those shows have been canceled and Chappelle is quarantining, his representative Carla Sims said in a statement. The comedian is asymptomatic.

According to the Associated Press, Chappelle had been performing socially-distanced shows in Ohio since June, and moved his shows to Austin during the winter, Sims said. Rapid testing for the audience and daily tests for Chappelle and his team were implemented.

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While refunds are granted to all of the ticketholders, many were bummed that they couldn’t see the comedy giant, yet are thankful that he’s keeping his audience’s safety and health at the forefront.

“Dave Chappelle is quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19. His remaining shows at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, TX have been canceled,” Carla Sims, Chappelle’s representative, said in a statement to the press.

“Chappelle implemented COVID-19 protocols which included rapid testing for the audience and daily testing for himself and his team. His diligent testing enabled him to immediately respond by quarantining, thus mitigating the spread of the virus. Chappelle is asymptomatic,” the statement continued.

Earlier this week, photos of fellow comedian Joe Rogan, billionaire Elon Musk, musician Grimes and other celebrities including Chappelle were pictured hanging out at Stubb’s went viral. In the photos, no one is seen wearing masks or practicing social distancing. There hasn’t been any word if anyone else in the photo tested positive.

Dave isn’t the only comedian who tested positive for COVID-19. During late summer 2020, Kevin Hart admitted that he secretly battled with the novel coronavirus.

The stand-up comedian and Jumanji star finally spoke out about his diagnosis after a full recovery months later.

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“The problem is that I had it around the same time as Tom Hanks, and I couldn’t say anything because he’s more famous than I am,” Hart told guests at Dave Chappelle’s An Intimate Socially Distanced Affair show in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

According to the CDC latest regulations, If you’ve been exposed to COVID at an event like a comedy show, you can be around others after:

• 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving* *Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​

Note that these recommendations do not apply to persons with severe COVID-19 or with severely weakened immune systems (immunocompromised).

These persons should follow the guidance below for “I was severely ill with COVID-19 or have a severely weakened immune system (immunocompromised) due to a health condition or medication. When can I be around others?”