Dave Chappelle attacked at the Hollywood Bowl by audience member with a knife
May 4, 2022 The Laugh Button Staff Dave Chappelle, Features, Netflix Is A Joke Fest
UPDATE: Both Netflix and Chappelle have issued statements about the attacks.
UPDATE: TMZ has longer footage of the incident including the attack from Isaiah Lee and him getting grabbed by a mix of security and entourage. A previously unreported comedians Jon Stewart and Jeff Ross (also maybe Jimmy Carr too?) can also be seen on stage during the melee.
Additionally, a photo of the knife the assailant had in his possession was released by the LAPD.
Last night, Dave Chappelle was performing at the Hollywood Bowl. It was his fourth night there as part of the inaugural Netflix is a Joke Festival. All was going pretty standard, when suddenly at the end of the show, a man from the front row ran up onstage and tackled Chappelle to the ground.
The attacker, identified by multiple press outlets as 23 year old Isaiah Lee, reportedly had a replica gun that had an ejectable knife blade on him. But it wasn’t too long before Chappelle’s bodyguards, venue security, other comics (even Jamie Foxx apparently) were on top of the guy and dragged him offstage. The attacker in question wound up being taken to the hospital on a gurney.
Chappelle was fine, however. Immediately after it happened, Chris Rock made light of the situation by asking “Was that Will Smith?” Chappelle then quipped that “It was a trans man.” Alluding to the recent hate he received over trans jokes in his previous specials.
Footage of the assailant being hauled off in an ambulance later surfaced showing him with what appears to be a broken arm.
