After Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle falls prey to an attack during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. A guy can be seen racing onto the stage before leveling Chappelle as security officers scramble to interfere in a video released to social media. The event was confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department, who told NBC Los Angeles that the guy was armed with a replica gun that could eject a genuine knife blade if shot correctly. It’s unclear if he tried to use the weapon.
The guy who reportedly assaulted Chappelle onstage during the Netflix Is A Joke event has been identified and detained by Los Angeles police. 23-year-old Isaiah Lee was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, according to police. According to LAPD Public Information Officer Mendez, Lee is being held on a $30,000 bail.
Why was Dave Chappelle attacked?
During a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, Dave Chappelle was assaulted onstage by a guy who went up and tackled him. According to the LAPD, Lee was in the audience before jumping onstage and attacking Chappelle as he was preparing to leave. The comedian was appearing as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival’s “Dave Chappelle and Friends” show.
Just came out of the Hollywood Bowl where a man charged and tackled Dave Chapelle on stage and got his ass kicked by at least 10 people.
LAPD and LAFD are now loading him into an ambulance pic.twitter.com/7SXPe9e8az
— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) May 4, 2022
According to authorities, security officers engaged in the concert intervened and pushed the suspect away from the comedian before detaining him. Lee was taken to the hospital after suffering superficial injuries during the confrontation. Chappelle, however, was unharmed in the incident. Chappelle is seen on camera footage shortly after the incident regaining his calm and joking, “It was a trans man.” The joke was a response to the continuing debate over whether or not any of the comedian’s gags in his Netflix specials were transphobic.
Dave Chapelle was rushed & attacked on stage by a man at the Hollywood Bowl. Chapelle tussled w/ the man, who ran behind the screen on stage & was surrounded by security. Chris Rock, who performed earlier, came on stage w/ him & joked: “Was that Will Smith?” #netflixisajokefest
— Stephanie Wash (@WashNews) May 4, 2022
According to the viewers, it left almost everyone in shock. It felt nothing less than a prank as asserted by Sharon Carpenter, an LA-based journalist. A portion of the audience also pointed toward the chances that the incident was staged keeping in mind Chris Rock’s as well as Dave’s reaction to the event.
‘Was this Will Smith?’ – Chris Rock
Foxx appeared on stage to help the comedian and to bring the tension down a notch. The true shock came when Chappelle asked Rock, who was also performing at the event if “Was that Will Smith?” For those who are unaware, Chris Rock received a slap at the 94th Academy Awards after a joke he made about Jada Pinkett Smith did not sit well with her husband Will Smith.
