Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage after a person interrupted his performance at the Netflix Is a Joke festival in Los Angeles.
The 48-year-old comedian was in the midst of a stand-up set at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday, May 3, when an audience member ran from the crowd onto the stage. In video footage shared by attendees on social media, Chappelle was knocked to the ground as security officials attempt to intervene.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to NBC Los Angeles that the suspect was armed with a replica gun with the ability to eject a knife blade. Neither the Chappelle’s Show alum nor any responding officers were injured, but the attacker was detained and later taken to a nearby hospital to treat “superficial injuries.”
Buzzfeed reporter Brianna Sacks, who attended the event, uploaded a video on Twitter following the incident showing the suspect being carried away on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Per Sacks, Chappelle “had literally just said he now has more security because of all the uproar from his jokes about the Trans community” moments before the attack. An official motive has yet to be determined.
Us Weekly confirms that authorities identified the culprit as Isaiah Lee. The 23-year-old was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $30,000 bail.
