Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. was the high school stomping grounds of one Dave Chappelle. In honor of his accomplishments in the realm of comedy and entertainment, the school was set to rename its theater after its famous alumnus during a ceremony on Monday. However, Chappelle decided against naming it after himself and instead opted for something more aligned with his recent crusade.
The Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression will be the new name of the Duke Ellington School's theater. It's fitting considering the controversy surrounding Chappelle's recent standup specials that had many criticizing his material for being too problematic. At the end, Dave gave the students his rationale behind the decision: “The idea that my name will be turned into an instrument of someone else’s perceived oppression is untenable to me.”
Source: Deadline.com
