Dave Chappelle to Receive NAACP President’s Award

Dave Chappelle is set to receive the President’s Award at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards.

The Grammy- and Emmy-winning comedian, who received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2019, will be recognized at the 56th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Earlier this month, Chappelle won his sixth Grammy and third in a row in the best comedy album category.

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“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress.”

Past recipients of the prestigious honor include Muhammad Ali, Jay-Z, Spike Lee, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Jay-Z, Rihanna, LeBron James, Usher, Kerry Washington, Lauryn Hill and Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade.

The 2025 NAACP Image Awards will support the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the recent L.A. wildfires. The NAACP, BET Media Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett and Kole (JSSK) have partnered with L.A. County and — in collaboration with organizations like Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA — launched the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, designed to protect homeowners from displacement and preserve the community’s cultural heritage.

Voting for the NAACP Image Awards is still open in select categories, with winners set to be revealed during the BET/CBS telecast, with non-televised categories presented virtually on Feb. 18-19 and at the Creative Honors on Friday, Feb. 21.

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