UPDATE: According to NBC Los Angeles, Isaiah Lee, 23, has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
He was allegedly carrying a replica gun with the capability of discharging a knife blade and is suspected of tackling comedian Dave Chappelle on stage on Tuesday night. He is being held in jail on $30,000 bail. Chappelle was attacked onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
During the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival, which Chappelle has performed at the Hollywood Bowl several times in the last month, video footage shows a man rushing onto the stage and tackling the performer to the ground. The attacker then stands up and attempts to flee the stage, but is apprehended and tackled by what appears to be security personnel and members of Chappelle’s team.
Because guests’ mobile phones were supposed to be inaccessible during the performance, video footage of the incident is limited. (According to the Hollywood Bowl website, attendees’ phones were to be secured in Yondr devices, which allow guests to keep their phones while sealing them off so they can’t be used.) They are only available in designated ‘Phone Use Areas’ at the venue.)
According to the information that has been released thus far, Chappelle appears to be unharmed and quickly regained his composure following the attack. “It was a trans man,” he later joked.
Chappelle has been a divisive figure due to his frequent jokes about transgender people and the perception that he is anti-transgender people.
Chris Rock, a comedian who had performed earlier in the evening, also joined the fray. According to ABC News, Rock, who was slapped by actor Will Smith while presenting at the Oscars in a now-famous incident, came on stage with Chappelle shortly after the attack and remarked, “Was that Will Smith?” (This interaction can be seen in the video below, though Variety has not independently verified the footage.)
So far, Rock has avoided making any pointed public comments about the Oscars slap and Smith.
According to a spokesperson for the Hollywood Bowl, an investigation into the attack has begun: “The incident that occurred on May 3, 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl is under investigation, and we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Actor Jamie Foxx is said to have rushed onto the stage to assist Chappelle in apprehending the attacker.
“Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” Chappelle joked at the show’s end. According to an unconfirmed video, Foxx responded, “I thought that was part of the show.”
The incident is reminiscent of Smith’s slap of comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony in March, and it is likely to raise concerns about free speech and the safety of performers.
“Listen, I just want to say this man is an absolute genius,” Foxx is heard saying of Chappelle in another unconfirmed phone video clip. We must ensure that he is always protected… This means everything to every comedian who comes out here. You’re an absolute genius. We’re not going to let anything happen to you because you’re a legend.”
Chappelle and his comedy have gotten a lot of attention in recent months, thanks in large part to his Netflix comedy special “The Closer.” The comedian addressed his long history of making jokes about the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans people, in the special, which was released in October but doubled down on the offensive humor.
The comedian identified as a member of “team TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) and shared an anecdote about beating up a lesbian woman. Protests erupted in response to Chappelle’s remarks and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ initial defense of him, including from Netflix employees, three of whom were suspended and later reinstated.