Dave Chappelle receives Key to the City from DC mayor
WASHINGTON - Comedian Dave Chappelle received a huge honor from his hometown of Washington D.C. as he received a Key to the City from Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Chappelle was given the award at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, the school he graduated from back in 1991.
The Key to the City is considered the highest honor the city can give and Chappelle received it in recognition of his comedic craft, artistic merit, promotion of D.C. Values and overall perseverance.
He is celebrating his 30th year in show business ranging in a variety of roles from performing standup comedy to being actor, writer and producer on big screen and on television, which includes his widely popular sketch comedy television show, “Chappelle’s Show.”
“Some very special native Washingtonians have dedicated their lives to making Washington D.C. better, and they’ve gone above and beyond to show others what makes the nation’s capital the best city in the world,” said Mayor Bowser. “Dave Chappelle reminds us what it means to live a life filled with purpose, meaning, and laughter.”
Chappelle was recently awarded an Emmy Award for his guest hosting appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He has decided to leave the trophy with the students and staff at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
“I want you guys to have this,” Chappelle said. “Just so you know that even though the odds are widely against you, this can happen for you if you guys just stay true to yourselves. So this is the people’s Emmy, and every once in a while, just take a look at it and just know I started earning this Emmy at this school.”
Chappelle hasn’t been shy in letting everyone know where he grew up. He recently made headlines for giving D.C. Public Schools a shout out at the Emmy Awards and helping make the hashtag #DCPublicSchools go viral on Twitter.
The D.C. native is wrapping up an 11-day comedy tour run in the nation’s capital as he has been performing sold-out shows at the Warner Theatre this month.
He was also seen out in the Adams Morgan neighborhood on Tuesday with fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld as they filmed an episode for Seinfeld’s web series “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”