An attacker has been identified and detained after Dave Chappelle was knocked to the ground during his Netflix Is a Joke festival show.
After lunging at the comedian the night before, Isaiah Lee was brought into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to Us Weekly, on Wednesday, May 4. Lee, a 23-year-old man, is being held on a $30,000 bond.
He was performing at the Hollywood Bowl on May 3 when Lee, 48, a Chappelle’s Show alum, ran up on stage from the audience. Chappelle was pushed to the ground, according to a video posted on social media. The You’ve Got Mail actor’s team and security personnel grabbed Lee as he tried to flee the stage some minutes later.
As part of the Netflix Is a Joke festival, Chappelle headlined a “Dave Chappelle and Friends” special earlier this month. “Phone-free experience,” as described on the event website, was the goal. Guests were allowed to keep their smartphones during the concert, but they had to keep them in the sealed pouches given by the venue.
It’s been nearly a year since the A Star Is Born actor was criticized for making offensive jokes in his Netflix special The Closer. Several employees of the streaming site staged a walkout in October 2021 because of his transphobic remarks.
What Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos told The Hollywood Reporter
“We have to entertain the globe when we think about this task.” “As part of that difficulty, you’ve got audiences with different tastes, different sensitivities, and different views. The material would be dull if you tried to please everyone.
Following Lee’s ejection from the venue, many accounts claim that Chappelle referred to Lee as a “trans man” during his show on Tuesday. The audience at the Hollywood Bowl includes a number of well-known names. Both Jamie Foxx and Chris Rock, the latter of whom was slapped by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars just two months previously, were in attendance.
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“Was that Will Smith?” the 57-year-old South Carolina native quipped shortly after the incident. (At the Academy Awards in March, while presenting the Best Documentary Feature trophy, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.) This resulted in an apology one day later from the King Richard celebrity who had walked on stage and slapped him
Rock, 54, and Ray, 54, were on the broadcast to offer their support for Chappelle
During the curtain call, Foxx is heard saying, “I thought that was part of the play, I didn’t know what happened. This man is a genius, that’s all I have to say.” We need to be vigilant in protecting him at all costs.
For every performer who shows up here, this means the world to them. What a brilliant idea. “You’re a legend, I had a great time, and we’ll do everything we can to keep you safe.”
Exactly What Occurred?
The Washington, D.C. native was knocked to the ground by an audience member during a standup show in Los Angeles.
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Assailant or Assault on the Comedian
In a statement, the Us confirmed that the 23-year-old had been accused of attacking Chappelle.
Was He Carrying a Weapon?
According to NBC Los Angeles, the LAPD reported that the suspect was carrying a replica gun that could release a knife blade.
Was he taken into custody?
Hours after the event occurred, Lee was apprehended and taken into custody by the police.
Do you know if anyone has been injured?
Lee was brought to a nearby hospital for “superficial injuries,” according to NBC Los Angeles, but neither Chappelle nor the security personnel on the scene was hurt.
Is there any word from Chappelle?
In the wake of the encounter, the Half-Baked star has yet to speak publicly about it.