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Dave Chappelle Attacked on Stage During Hollywood Bowl Performance
Performing on Tuesday night during the Netflix Is A Joke Festival, Dave Chappelle was tackled on-stage by an attendee, who was reportedly armed.
Dave Chappelle made it out safe after being attacked during a stand-up set on Tuesday night. While performing at the Hollywood Bowl during the Netflix Is A Joke Festival, the comedian was rushed on-stage by a random attendee, who ABC7 Los Angeles reported was armed with a gun and a knife.
Upon being rushed, Chappelle and the man scuffled on the stage floor before the man ran behind a screen on-stage, only to be surrounded and apprehended by security guards and fellow comedian Jamie Foxx. Running towards the altercation and saying that the man was being "stomped," Chappelle repeatedly demanded that the man be removed from the stage. The comedian went uninjured, and the man was brought into custody after the incident was reported at 10:45 PM.
Moments later, Chris Rock – who performed earlier in the evening – hopped on stage and broke the ice, asking, "Was that Will Smith?"
Per Deadline, Chappelle joked that the attack came from "a trans man," in reference to his controversial Netflix special, The Closer. In viral clips, the comedian is heard thanking Foxx for coming to his aid.
"Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” Chappelle said.
“I thought that was part of the show,” Foxx responded.
“I grabbed the back of that Nigga’s head," said Chappelle. “His hair was spongey!”
Later Chappelle further joked about the shocking incident. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I just stomped a nigga backstage. I’ve always wanted to do that," he said.
In response, Foxx gave Chappelle his flowers. “Listen, I just want to say…this man is an absolute genius. We’ve got to make sure we protect him at all times,” Foxx said. “For every comedian who comes out here, this means everything. You’re a genius. You’re a legend, and we’re not going to let nothing happen to you.”
After the incident, some attendees went to social media to share eyewitness accounts of Chappelle being attacked.
@shazzacarpenter Dave Chappelle just got assaulted on-stage by a man at his Hollywood Bowl show in LA. Dave’s OK but after security got to the attacker, he may not be. #davec
\u201cHere is a video of the aftermath. #DaveChappelle handled this like a champ! #HollywoodBowl\u201d— E5QUIRE (@E5QUIRE) 1651645046
\u201c@e5quire Chris rock after Dave Chappelle get attacked on stage \u201cis that will smith \u201c\ud83d\ude02\u201d— E5QUIRE (@E5QUIRE) 1651645046
The man who attacked Chappelle was removed from the scene in an ambulance truck, appearing to be mangled and having a dislocated arm.
\u201cSomeone attacked Dave Chappelle at his show and his security team left that man looking like Mojo JoJo. \n\nhttps://t.co/pna2642x7G\u201d— NUFF (@NUFF) 1651647293
The motive for the attack is unclear.
