When it was shouted into the microphone that  had won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album, many viewers probably got excited that he would appear onstage to give a humorous acceptance speech. Instead, they got one of those awkward moments when the presenters – in this case, Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker – wait for the applause to die down for them to inform the audience that the winner is not there to receive the award. 

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Considering how marred , every absence from the ceremony tends to be interpreted as an act of boycotting. . However, there’s a more simple reason for why Dave Chappelle wasn’t there to accept his golden gramophone: traffic. 

A representative for the comedian told Page Six that “It was nothing more than #LATraffic.” While this could suggest that Chappelle’s absence was beyond his control, he probably would have made sure to head to the Staples Center earlier if the Grammys were a top priority for him. He did eventually make it there, though. Photos show him mingling with Ellen DeGeneres backstage. 

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