Dave Chappelle Attacked On Stage During Performance 

Dave Chappelle has offended a lot of people over the years, but one audience member went too far.  We’re yet to recover from the Chris Rock vs Will Smith Oscar attack, and we’re seeing yet another attack on another comedian on stage.

Dave Chappelle – How The Attack Happened

Dave Chappelle, an American comedian was attacked onstage during his “Netflix Is a Joke Presents: Dave Chappelle and Friends” performance at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday, May 3.

While Chappelle was performing, a man seated in the audience rushed to the stage and tackled him. Footage circulating on social media showed Chappelle on stage performing when a man to his right rushed at him and tackled him to the floor. The man was then dragged away by security, according to a report by Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Gates On Leaving Behind A Legacy That’s Stronger Than Divorce

View Story

The Los Angeles Police Department stated that the suspect was armed with a replica gun “that can eject a knife blade” when discharged correctly. It wasn’t immediately clear if the man tried to use the weapon. Police said that Chappelle was not injured in the incident.

Jamie Foxx, the Hollywood actor, was among those who ran to the stage to help after the incident. The LAPD has since identified the attacker as a 23-year-old man named Isaiah Lee, he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and transported to a local hospital for treatment after the incident. His bail has been set at $30,000.

Dave Chappelle  – Will The Recent Onstage Attacks On Comedians Trigger Fear In The Hearts Of Comedians?

The first man to set the pace of assaulting comedians onstage was Will Smith. This assault took place at the March 27th Oscars 94th Annual Academy Award, in which Chris Rock took to the stage to perform and at a point made a joke, mocking Jada Pinkett’s shaved head — something the actress said was due to a hair loss condition. 

Will Smith took the stage and slapped Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Although Will Smith has since resigned from the Academy, he was also banned from the ceremony for 10 years.

Comedian Howie Mandel reacted to the news that Dave Chappelle was attacked onstage during his performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

Jada Pinkett Smith Shares Important Message https://t.co/rx13LFpGjc #CelebrityNews #AcademyAwards #ChrisRock pic.twitter.com/EvSZjId3Wa

— SOS/CTS/HH (@SoapOperaSpy) May 4, 2022

Howie said, “That hit… no pun intended… that hit very deeply.” He added, “My biggest fear 40 years ago was not getting a laugh, and then cancel culture came along, and then it was like, ‘Oh, my God if somebody doesn’t like your joke or you overstepped your line you could lose your career,’ and then after the Academy Awards… I said… ‘Violence triggers violence.’”

Reflecting on the moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars over a Jada Pinkett Smith joke, Howie continued, “This is one step that kind of opens a door and triggers somebody if they don’t like what you’re saying or they’re offended by what you’re saying… It’s kind of okay because it’s been done, to be violent, and that’s what my fear was.”

Howie revealed, “The night after the Academy Awards I didn’t sleep for two nights and, you know, I really didn’t, and it hit me at the core, no pun intended, and then when I watched what happened last night… We’re just trying to make people smile, we’re just trying to make people laugh — this is the opposite of violence, and it just… I don’t have words.”

Circling back to Chappelle, he said, “Watching what happened to Dave last night confirmed my fear. I was watching it kind of live on Twitter and I turned to my wife and I said, ‘I don’t want to. I don’t want to go on stage. I’m just really afraid.’”

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Dave Chappelle right now. Come back here often for all the Dave Chappelle’s spoilers, news, and updates.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins