Bronx rapper Fat Joe defended his friend, comedian Dave Chappelle who continues to face protests from the LGBTQ+ community due to his comments about transpersons.

“They love him,” Fat Joe told TMZ who rolled up on him on the streets of New York. “They love him. Everybody gotta take the time out and laugh. When it’s a comedian we look at it as fun humor laughter. Of course there’s some sensitive issues that our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community are facing which is fear, people beating ’em up for no reason. All types of things that are happening to ’em unfairly, but I don’t think Dave Chappelle making fun of them or me, I just laugh, you know? And I take it for what it is.”

The Terror Squad leader continued, “You mess around and walk into the comedy club after they already started and you try to get to your seat, they gonna tear you up for about a half hour…I think comedy has always been a relief. It’s always made fun of everything. Sometimes it’s too soon…but other than that, I love comedy. I love to laugh and that’s the beauty of comedy…he’s just being a comedian.”

A scheduled show at the iconic First Avenue last week in Minneapolis was canceled just hours before the show after complaints and protests from that city’s LGBTQ+ community. The show was moved to the Varsity Theater.

First Avenue, the historic venue that was featured in the Prince classic, Purple Rain, tweeted last week, “We are not just a black box with people in it, and we understand that First Ave is not just a room, but meaningful beyond our walls.

“The First Avenue team and you have worked hard to make our venues the safest spaces in the country, and we will continue with that mission. We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, but in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact this would have. We know there are some who will not agree with this decision, you are welcome to send feedback.”

Chappelle has faced ongoing criticism from the LGBTQ+ community for years—particularly after his Netflix special, The Closer, which featured jokes about a transgender person and the backlash against rapper, DaBaby, who made homophobic comments at the Rolling Loud festival last year.

“Gender is a fact,” Chappelle said in part during the special. “Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact.”

LGBTQ+ employees at the streaming giant staged a walkout due to the network’s airing of the special. The Closer was nominated this year for two Emmy Awards.