Dave Chappelle Got Attacked Onstage At The Hollywood Bowl
Comedians are going to have to enroll in some hand-to-hand combat classes or at least take a crash-in-course chancleta-throwing from a seasoned abuelita. Because last night Dave Chappelle became the latest comedian to get the Whoop That Trick treatment from an angry audience member. The Hollywood Reporter says that while Dave was performing at the Hollywood Bowl for the Netflix Is A Joke Festival (“What a fitting name” said all the writers who just got fired by Netflix, etc, etc…), an audience member rushed the stage toward the end of his set and tried to take him down. Dave’s attacker reportedly had a replica gun that shoots out a knife blade (what in Rambo hell…). Dave was not injured, but his attacker was after Dave’s security team, with help from Jamie Foxx and Busta Rhymes, beat the dude down.
Here’s the short clip of Dave’s attacker looking like he’s auditioning for the NFL (that’ll be my only butch reference for the week, okay, second after that Rambo reference) by trying to tackle Dave:
Dave Chappelle was attacked tonight in Los Angeles by a man who rushed the stage and tackled the comedian during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.
According to KABC, the suspect was armed with both a gun and a knife. pic.twitter.com/t8hEdckOfl
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 4, 2022
And if Dave’s attacker thought that his plan would end with Dave getting taken away from the Hollywood Bowl in an ambulance, he got hit with a PLOT TWIST when he got beat up by Dave’s security team and was later taken away from the Hollywood Bowl in an ambulance. Witnesses tell TMZ that Jamie Foxx and Busta Rhymes also got a few swipes in:
Dave Chappelle’s security team beating up the man who assaulted him onstage at the Hollywood Bowl. pic.twitter.com/NO22Nv4Ier
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 4, 2022
Dave’s attacker has been identified as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee who was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $30,000 bail. But Isaiah Lee may need a minute with posting bail because it’s going to be a little hard for him to call someone to bail him out when he’s twisted up like a possessed pretzel. Dave’s crew went full Auntie Anne’s on his ass. And Isaiah was shuffled off to the hospital while looking like a Mr. Potato Head doll who was put back together by a drunk.
Definitely don’t tackle #DaveChappelle while he’s performing on stage 😬 pic.twitter.com/X0Lbi8ghsf
— AlexGB.sfm (@ab_a_w_p) May 4, 2022
BuzzFeed News reporter Brianna Sacks, who was there last night, tweeted that during Dave’s set, he “talked about needing more security after the controversy over his trans jokes.” And after Dave was attacked, he stayed on-brand as the self-proclaimed TERF he is by quipping that his attacker was a “trans man.” Dave talked about the attack more with Jamie Foxx at the end of the show. via THR:
Chappelle spoke more about the incident and called out to thank actor-comedian Jamie Foxx. “Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” said Chappelle.
“N——, I thought that was part of the show, I didn’t know what the fuck…” Foxx jokes in response.
Chappelle then says, “I grabbed the back of that n—- head. His hair was spongy, absorbent.”
Foxx then takes a moment to address the crowd and Chappelle. “Listen, I just want to say, this man is an absolute genius. We’ve got to make sure we protect him at all times,” said Foxx.
He added, “For every comedian who comes out here, this means everything. You’re a genius. You’re a legend, I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and we’re not going to let nothing happen to you.”
Chappelle then jokes to Foxx, “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I just stomped a n—– backstage. I’ve always wanted to do that.”
Chris Rock, who performed earlier in the night, came back onstage and wondered if his Oscar night slapper Will Smith has an alibi by asking, “Was that Will Smith?”
WAS THAT WILL SMITH☠️😭 #DaveChappelle #ChrisRock @chrisrock @DaveChappelle pic.twitter.com/KGgNdz1T3T
— Richie (@BayBully901) May 4, 2022
A rep for The Hollywood Bowl wouldn’t comment on how Dave’s attacker got in with a knife gun and said that they’re investigating. THR reporter Natalie Jarvey also tweeted that before Netflix’s comedy festival began, a Netflix exec told her that security is their top priority after Will Smith tried to turn Chris Rock into Chris Dust at the Oscars. And then this happens. Typical Netflix! Since this is Netflix we’re talking about, I’m guessing that their idea of beefing up their security was putting a cardboard cutout of the Paradise PD cartoons at the foot of the stage.
Pic: Netflix