SharpeHaus Founder Leon Wu: “We Can be Funny Without Hurting People.”

On Oct 20, over 100 Netflix employees and activists staged a walkout at the company’s Los Gatos headquarters over their publication of transphobic hate speech in Dave Chapelle’s standup film, "The Closer.” Among the speakers was SharpeHaus Founder and BIPOC trans activist Leon Wu.

Wu brought light to the fact that transphobic hate speech has historically been a hallmark of American entertainment and culture but that it would no longer be tolerated.

Wu noted that he was a survivor of the media’s attack on trans people, noting the documentary Disclosure (also on Netflix) helped him “realize this whole time I’ve been brainwashed by popular culture to feel bad about who I am.”

Wu noted the need for ethically responsible comedy, and made a point to share that “we can be funny without hurting people.” He encouraged people to educate rather than drag, noting that “dragging ends lives.”

Watch the video and read the full transcript below!

Transcription of Leon Wu’s speech:

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Leon Elias Wu, the founder of Sharpe Suiting and SharpeHaus. I’m a gender-expansive fashion designer and entertainment producer and BIPOC trans activist.

First, I’d like to just go ahead and talk about Dave Chapelle since we’re talking about him, right? Now, I grew up watching Dave Chapelle with my family. We played his stand-up during dinner. We loved what Dave Chapelle did sometimes.

Also, I do not believe in cancel culture — canceling Dave Chapelle or anybody. Further, I do not believe in dragging people. Dragging people ends lives. What I do believe in, is learning and growth.

I grew up watching Dave Chapelle, Eddie Murphy, In Living Color, SNL, and I’ve also been one to say recently, maybe people are too sensitive and I miss the old days when we can poke fun at each other. But what was funny to me back then in the ’90s is not actually funny to me today.

I’ve changed. Things have changed for the better. One thing I know for sure: It’s not funny when I watch the Disclosure documentary, also on Netflix, and realize this whole time I’ve been brainwashed by popular culture to feel bad about who I am.

It’s not funny when I look back at the time and money I spent in therapy. It’s not funny when a trans kid who reminds me of myself, all the way in Taiwan, DMs me crying, saying they don’t have any hope for themselves. And then I see that not enough progress has been made.

I truly believe we are here in this world to celebrate each other - to learn, educate, and grow from each other.

Comparing Black face to trans women is not a congruent joke or comparison. Trans women are not “dressing like women” to make fun of women. Trans women ARE women.

[Cheers and Applause]

A person does not need to produce, deliver, or birth a child to be a woman. That goes for any woman, trans or cis.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re cis, nonbinary, or trans, Black face is just wrong. It was people making fun of a marginalized group from a privileged standpoint. These comparisons are not equal - not even in the slightest.

We can be funny without hurting people.

[Cheers and Applause. People scream “yes! yes!”]

Just last week I was at a stand-up show. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the things that comedy is for in our lives and communities. And none of the jokes or stories were disrespectful, unsafe, harmful, or in poor taste. And by the way, all the performers were trans or nonbinary.

[Cheers and Applause]

Yes we are a sensitive community, but with that vibe we still innovate comedy and powerful stories. Stand-up and comedy don’t have to be about beatdowns. For something to be funny, we don’t have to beat down ourselves or any other marginalized community.

Gone are the days of Blackface. Gone are the days of dragging ourselves and other vulnerable communities. Gone are the days of making fun of Pat on SNL, Buffalo Bill characters, women who look like men, and making fun of trans people.

Let’s trust in our creativity and ability to innovate because I know we are much more creative than this.

[Cheers and Applause]

It’s time for big entertainment and media and publicity to make a commitment for change. It’s time for us to take more social responsibility on the content we create, direct, produce, and distribute to the world.

I mean just look back at what we’ve done to ourselves in the past two years during the pandemic. We’ve seen so much misinformation, sensationalized news, irresponsible publicity in social media, and how much harm that can do. It’s time for us to take more social responsibility on what is ethical comedy and entertainment. What is newsworthy, what information is positive, helpful, or innovative to share with the world.

Thank you very much for letting me share. I still stand in solidarity with my friend Ashley Marie Preston and the trans and nonbinary employees of Netflix.