While performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, Dave Chappelle was attacked by an audience member who rushed the stage and tackled the comedian.
Footage of the incident was captured on video, which shows the man lunging at Dave:
Another video showed a crowd of people on stage, with several of them kicking someone on the ground. Dave is seen being pulled away.
After the altercation, Dave—who appeared to be uninjured from what transpired—joked, “It was a trans man.”
The comedian also shouted out Jamie Foxx, saying, “Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” implying Foxx was involved in the retaliation against the man. Foxx replied, “I thought that was part of the show,” and added, “Listen, I just want to say man, I’ve had an incredible time. This man is an absolute genius. We got to make sure we protect him at all times man. This is what it’s about. For every comedian who comes out here man, this means everything. You a genius, you a legend. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and we’re not going to let nothing happen to you.”
Dave, who said he grabbed the back of the man’s head and joked “his hair was spongey, absorbent,” continued, “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I just stomped a n***a backstage. Always wanted to do that.”
Chris Rock, who was in attendance, joked, “Was that Will Smith?”
According to NBC Los Angeles, the suspect had a replica gun that can eject a knife blade “when you discharge it correctly,” and noted the man suffered “superficial injuries.” Per TMZ, law enforcement said the man—named 23-year-old Isaiah Lee—pointed the gun at Dave when he rushed the comedian. The outlet also made it clear it was not a real gun, but rather a “replica of a semi-automatic.” TMZ further reports eyewitnesses saying both Foxx and Busta Rhymes “got a few licks in.”
The man is being held on $30,000 bail after being charged for assault with a deadly weapon. The official Twitter account of the LAPD posted an image of the weapon.
Aerial footage from ABC7 showed the attacker leaving in a gurney and being loaded into an ambulance.
Additional videos have surfaced of the attacker showing his injuries after the incident.
Dave Chappelle’s performance was a part of the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, with the comedian putting on several shows at the Hollywood Bowl under the Chappelle and Friends banner.
The attack follows the widely publicized and discussed moment at the 2022 Oscars, where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over a joke made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, who struggles with alopecia. The incident sparked a conversation about the safety of comedians.
Dave has also been criticized recently for his jokes about the transgender community in his Netflix special The Closer, with Netflix employees staging a walkout and demanding change amid the company’s relationship with the comedian. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos says he stands by the special, adding he “screwed up the internal communication” regarding the issue.
