Dave Chappelle, the controversial stand-up comedian, has a long and illustrious career. Before becoming the host and creator of the popular Comedy Central show, Chappelle was a well-known stand-up comic who appeared in a number of films. After leaving Chappelle’s Show in a very public manner, Chappelle went on a long hiatus from the entertainment world. However, Chappelle has made a resurgence since then, producing new Netflix stand-up comedy specials with material that has gotten him into trouble.
On May 3rd, Chappelle was playing at the Hollywood Bowl during his Netflix is a Joke Fest event. After Chappelle’s performance, Isaiah Lee, a 23-year-old college student, stormed the stage and attacked him. The assailant, according to NBC News Los Angeles, was equipped with a fake pistol that could “eject a knife blade.” Felony assault with dangerous weapon charges have been filed against Lee. Many people have seen the event on video, and eyewitnesses have supplied details about what transpired immediately thereafter.
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, tweeted Stephanie Wash.
In one clip, Lee is shown apparently being thrashed by an unknown gang, while another shows him being rushed away in an ambulance with his arm twisted awkwardly. Here are the videos, but please be aware that they include explicit or upsetting material.
Definitely don’t tackle #DaveChappelle while he’s performing on stage 😬 pic.twitter.com/X0Lbi8ghsf
— AlexGB.sfm (@ab_a_w_p) May 4, 2022
There were other people making jokes about it, too, as journalist Stephanie Wash noted on Twitter. “Was that Will Smith?” Chris Rock jokingly asked later in the show, according to Walsh. After Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head at the Oscars, Will Smith struck him in the face. Footage showed Will first chuckling at the joke, then storming the stage and slapping Rock in the face.
