Comedian Dave Chappelle was performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, as part of the Netflix Is A Joke festival, when a man jumped onstage and attempted to tackle the comedian to the ground.
#davechappelle attacked at #hollywoodbowl #netflixisajoke pic.twitter.com/oP04S0de90
— abazar 🦇🔊 (@abazar) May 4, 2022
The incident reportedly happened towards the end of the stand-up act. Chappelle can be seen standing on stage in a video when a man suddenly rushes at him from the side. Video of the incident quickly spread over social media.
Here’s the guy who jumped Dave Chappelle pic.twitter.com/kkmIhH685a
— Lenny Del Earnhardt (@lennydelray) May 4, 2022
The man is then seen being dragged away by security while another video allegedly shows the suspect being detained by security guards at the venue.
The idiot getting beaten down after attacking Dave Chappelle at Hollywood Bowl pic.twitter.com/Ft0FIUyjWv
— Jed Simon (@JEDSIMON) May 4, 2022
Chappelle continued with the show and reportedly told the audience: “I don’t know if that was part of the show or… I grabbed the back of that n****s head, his hair was spongy, absorbent.”
Man That Attacked Dave Chappelle At His Show At Hollywood Bowl Has Hands Broken and Dislocated pic.twitter.com/ZvPgjdV5gz
— raphousetv (@raphousetv2) May 4, 2022
E5quire, a DJ and producer who was at the performance tweeted, “#DaveChappelle just got attacked on stage at #HollywoodBowl while making jokes. I’ve officially seen it all.”
#DaveChappelle just got attacked on stage at #HollywoodBowl while making jokes. I’ve officially seen it all.
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022
He continued, “Suddenly a random person sitting in the front row jumped on stage and ran straight at him. He tackled Dave and they both went to the floor and began wrestling when everyone ran onstage to help, including Dave’s security…”
Suddenly a random person sitting in the front row jumped on stage and ran straight at him. He tackled Dave and they both went to the floor and began wrestling when everyone ran onstage to help, including Dave’s security…
Part 2
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022
He then added, “The man was then grabbed by a number of people and taken back stage and probably didn’t make it out alive for all we know. Dave then came out from the back and this is where the video starts…”
Someone just ran on stage and attacked Dave Chappelle 😮 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles #netflixisajokefest #netflixisajoke pic.twitter.com/0WMUPQ7ks4
— DoZay (@DoZay1) May 4, 2022
In another video after immediately after the attack, Chappelle joked, “It was a trans man,” referencing controversy surrounding some of the comedian’s jokes in his Netflix specials, which LGBTQ activists have labeled “transphobic.”
Comedian Chris Rock, who performed earlier in the evening, reportedly also came on stage with Chappelle after the attack and quipped, “Was that Will Smith?”
Here is a video of the aftermath. #DaveChappelle handled this like a champ! #HollywoodBowl pic.twitter.com/0xaBpWsbrT
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022
E5quire then posted a video of the end of the show during which Jamie Foxx joined Chappelle on stage.
Chapelle said, “Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat.”
“I thought that was part of the show,” Foxx responded.
Later Chappelle replied, “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I just stomped a N***** backstage. I’ve always wanted to do that.”
Foxx added, “Listen, I just want to say…this man is an absolute genius. We’ve got to make sure we protect him at all times. 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.”
Los Angeles police confirmed to ABC7 that they “…responded to an incident at the Hollywood Bowl around 10:45 pm and a man who was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife was taken into custody.”
Story cited here.