Dave Chappelle isn’t backing down from controversy. 

In his new Netflix special, “The Unstoppable,” he makes that clear by taking direct aim at Bill Maher.

In the special, which debuted on the streaming service this past Friday (December 19), the comedian addressed the renewed criticism head-on, acknowledging that his decision to perform in Saudi Arabia once again put him under public scrutiny. 

“Recently in the news, I’ve been getting a lot of grief, again, because I did a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia,” he said, before pausing to note the crowd’s response. 

According to the 52-year-old, unlike in previous moments in his career, he felt no internal conflict about the decision this time. 

 “These motherf*ckers act like because I did a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia I somehow betrayed my principles,” he continued, before mentioning the death of a journalist, named Jamal Khashoggi, who died in Saudi Arabia.  

“I’m sorry that he got murdered in such a heinous fashion. And also, look bro, Israel’s killed 240 journalists in the last three months so I didn’t know y’all were still counting.”

That confidence quickly turned into frustration as he brought up Maher, explaining that the two have known each other since they were teenagers, around 18-19 years old. 

“I’ve never said this publicly, but f*ck that guy. I’m so f*cking tired of his little smug, cracker-a** commentary,” he continued during his special. 

Maher previously pushed back on Chappelle’s claim that it felt “easier to talk” in Saudi Arabia than in the U.S. 

During an episode of “Real Time,” Maher explained he felt the comedians, including the six-time Emmy award-winner, were “brave” to hold shows at the Riyadh Festival in Saudi Arabia and had an issue with Chappelle claiming it’s “easier to talk” in Saudi Arabia than in America. 

“It’s not true,” Maher said.

“Do your hunk on Mohammed, Dave.”

During his special, the “Chappelle Show” alum addressed that criticism directly, explaining that the comment wasn’t meant to spark a media firestorm. 

According to Chappelle, it was something he said casually onstage that later got pulled out and amplified.

“I didn’t tell them to put this in the paper. I just said it on stage,” he explained, before doubling down on his point. 

“It’s easier to talk in Saudi Arabia for me than it is in America.”

He explained his sentiments, using his own recent experience in the U.S., reminding viewers of the intense backlash he faced over jokes about the transgender community just two years ago. 

That moment, he said, nearly got him canceled and changed how he views free speech in comedy.

“Don’t forget what I just went through,” he said, noting that the same material landed without issue overseas. 

“Transgender jokes went over very well in Saudi Arabia.”

You can watch some of the clip from the special below.