EXCLUSIVE: Counter-protesters speak out after standing up for Dave Chappelle against the Netflix mob

Earlier today, The Post Millennial reported on the situation at Netflix headquarters where dozens of employees walked out to voice their anger at the Dave Chappelle comedy special, "The Closer."

Transgender activists expressed their wants and desires at the company, including giving trans employees salary raises. Other formal demands include "harm reduction" and clamping down on "transphobia and hate speech."

The event saw a counter-protest from YouTube comedian Vito Gesualdi and podcast host Dick Masterson who arrived at the Netflix building to share a message of support for Dave Chapelle in the wake of this backlash.

In several viral clips making the rounds on social media, those protesting against Chappelle destroyed Gesualdi’s sign and refused to allow him a chance to properly speak. Gesualdi was captured on video stating "Dave Chapelle is a funny guy."

To rectify that, the Post Millennial reached out to both Masterson and Gesualdi to hear why they went out to the Netflix protest today.

• Vito Gesualdi: "As a comedian, hearing "you can't joke about that" is the scariest thing in the world. Laughter is not only my profession, but also the most important thing in my life. Seeing one of the greatest comedians of all time being torn down and cancelled for making a few jokes about a very sensitive group of people just felt like an absurdity. So we answered with our own absurdity. The idea that a sign reading ‘jokes are funny’ could offend anyone is hilarious. I called up Dick the night before, we grabbed some arts and crafts supplies from target, and made some crappy signs in the parking lot. And yet that stupid joke was more powerful than all the empty angry rhetoric on display from the event organizers. Comedy has power."
• Dick Masterson: "I went to the protest to stick up for Dave! And for anyone at Netflix with a brain. These cancel culture lynch mobs are small, but they can be very loud. It's important to speak out against them and to show how unreasonable and ridiculous they are. Starting violence and attacking us over an ‘I LIKE JOKES’ sign. It's ludicrous."

I asked the duo what their message was, and what they want people to take away from today.

• Vito Gesualdi: "The ultimate message is that there is indeed hatred in this world, vile people who want to cause harm. But they aren't comedians. If Dave Chappelle or Jk Rowling is the top of your hit list, you should take a long look at this problem of discrimination and figure out where to properly direct your anger. Transgenderism is a major topic worldwide, and people are going to have opinions about it. They may even joke about it. And we all need to accept that these opinions and jokes hopefully bring us closer to understanding and truth."
• Dick Masterson: "My actual message is, look at these lunatics! These people are unhinged and violent, over the dumbest things. They scream like children instead of talking, they grab and play dumb games, they want to shut down speech, period. For anyone who doesn't vociferously agree with them. They should be laughed at by all of us now and forever. Until they're ready to grow up and act like adults."

While the Netflix special covered a host of topics, the comedian got personal about his experiences with the trans community towards its finale. It was a situation that saw employees both fired for storming into an executive meeting, and reinstated later.

Netflix CEO said he screwed up when it came to listening to employees who were "really hurting" when it came to earlier remarks about the distinction between storytelling and the real world.