A man who tossed a banana peel at Dave Chappelle during the comedian’s act in what many think was a racist move admitted Thursday that he did the same thing to another African-American man this week.
Christian Englander of Santa Fe, New Mexico,
told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Thursday that he got into an argument with a man on Wednesday night about the widely reported Chappelle incident. In the end, he tossed another banana peel at the man, who also was African-American.
Englander insisted that his act was not racist, but said it was more ironic, the newspaper reported. He said the second person, Jay Wills, got into an argument with him about throwing the banana at Chapelle.
“It seemed fitting at that point,” Englander, 30, told the New Mexican. “I was like, the irony of this situation is too much to pass up, and I probably should’ve just let it be.”
Englander was arrested Monday night after he threw a banana peel at Chapelle during his performance at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. The New Mexican said police and Chappelle interpreted the action as racially motivated, although Englander denied that. He said he has thrown other banana peels at people who weren’t black.
Englander apologized on KRQE Thursday for throwing the banana peel at the comedian. Calling himself a jester or joker, Englander said, “I never meant to hurt him (Chappelle), the banana had no racial connotation to that toss.”
When news of the Chappelle banana incident spread, many lambasted Englander online. Others, who gave the man the benefit of the doubt, were turned off by the second incident. Jeff Green told the New Mexican, “Once might be reasonably explained as a bad joke and honest mistake and not racist, but twice in the same week is a lot harder to stomach, even for those who were willing to give him a second chance.”
Englander was charged with battery and disorderly conduct in connection with his activity at Chapelle’s show.
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