Cindy Adams Explains Dave Chappelle



(image via cindyandjazzy)

First Lloyd Grove began to get all "urban" on the gossip beat, now -- of all people -- Cindy Adams of the cucumber sandwich set. We have come to suspend all disbelief when reading Cindy Adams. That purveyor of godawful perfume. (Averted Gaze) Over the years, she has regaled us with her arch defenses of Right-Wing dictators, mirthful tales of her horrible dogs, and the odd snatch of conversation overheard at The Four Seasons.

But really we sat bolt upright when we learned that after all the media reflection on the Dave-Chappelle-Goes-Batshit incident, it is Cindy Adams who has the last word. Apparently, Dave Chappele's closest friends are clueless, and want to get to him through -- don't laugh -- a Park Avenue gossip column. Because you know Chappelle is in Yellow Springs reading Cindy Adams. Only in New York, kiddies ...

According to Cin:

"DAVE Chappelle's friends are reach ing out. They haven't heard from him. They love him. They want to get a message to him.

"Contrary to what's been said, what we've read and, thus, what most of us believe, these friends aren't worried that he's not together. They're worried he isn't being made aware how together he is. Since that sounds confusing, I'll take it from the beginning.


George Richardson, a gentle retiree in his 70s, was New Jersey's only black member of the state legislature when elected in 1961 and served four terms. His wife, Ingrid Frank, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, is a public-affairs professional. Lifelong human-rights activists, they asked for my help.

"A young hip-hop comedian named Dave Chappelle was eager to turn the hip-hop community off drugs and negativity into doing good. This eventually led to a Round Table positivity discussion. Over the years, these ongoing Let Hip-Hop Heal sessions with Chappelle moderating osmosed into the idea of recording a single with proceeds to help disadvantaged youngsters. People like Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, Doug E. Fresh, Erykah Badu, Russell Simmons, Diddy and Mos Def supported the ideas.

"As Chappelle became a Comedy Central star, these Round Table discussions about helping the black community began to eat at him. He began to sense what he was doing careerwise was not good for the black community. His posse kept reinforcing how great he was, but one day he noticed a white guy laughing at him. Not with him. At him. Chappelle suddenly started saying things like, 'I have to find out am I dancing or shuffling.'

"George Richardson explained, 'Shuffling means you're an Uncle Tom.'"

We would give anything to watch the expression on Cindy Adams as she received that bit of schooling. Did she make a face as if her servant had just passed gas? Did she ask to be excused claiming to have "the vapors"?

Next week Cindy Adams and Lloyd "G-Dogg" Grove explain to us how to roll the perfect blunt.