Dave Chappelle Hollywood Bowl Attack: Viral Video Shows Man Tackling Comedian at Netflix Set

Dave Chappelle Hollywood Bowl Attack: Viral Video Shows Man Tackling Comedian at Netflix Set
Comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked while performing at the Hollywood Bow. It was caught on camera and went viral online. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Comedian Dave Chappelle got attacked by reportedly armed a man while performing at the Hollywood Bowl Tuesday night according to witnesses of the incident, which was caught on camera that went viral online.

Eyewitnesses during the Netflix Is A Joke event claimed the man rushed the stage and tackled Chappelle.

ABC News reported that Chappelle and the man wrestled on the stage floor before the man retreated behind a screen.

Security personnel swarmed and tackled the man in the stage's back corne.

Chappelle appeared to sprint toward the fight, claiming the man was being "stomped," and repeatedly asking that security take the man away from the stage.

Moments after the incident, Chris Rock, who had performed earlier in the night, joined Chappelle on stage and joked, "Was that Will Smith?" The assault seems to have left Chappelle unharmed, which was confirmed by the police, as video clips uploaded to social media show him continuing with his act.

The LAPD stated they had taken a guy into custody and that he was carrying a replica gun "that can eject a knife blade" when fired correctly as per a report by Hollywood Reporter. It was unclear whether the man attempted to use the firearm in the attack.

The Show Must Go On

Chappelle is seen recovering his composure and joking, "It was a trans man," in video footage taken shortly after the incident. The joke was a reference to the continuing controversy over some of the comedian's gags in his Netflix specials that have been perceived as transphobic.

The attack happened near the end of Chappelle's set, according to BuzzFeed News reporter Brianna Sacks, who was in the audience. She tweeted that the attacker got "his ass kicked" by the security personnel.

She further said that, before the attack, Chappelle had expressed a desire for better protection following the backlash over his trans jokes.

Later, in a video of the curtain call, Chappelle elaborated on the situation and thanked actor-comedian Jamie Foxx. "Whenever you're in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff's hat," the 48-year-old comedian added.

Another Attack On A Comedian

In October, about 100 people rallied outside Netflix's headquarters over the airing of a comedy special by Chappelle, which they said was transphobic, according to BBC.

They had objected to The Closer, in which he said "gender is a fact" and that LGBT people were "too sensitive".

Chappelle later responded at people who wanted to "cancel" him, saying that he is "more than willing to give" an audience "to the transgender community." "But you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody's demands."

The likes of Seth Rogen, Snoop Dogg, Bill Burr, and Pete Davidson are also staring at Netflix's five weeks ago,

Smith infamously slapped Rock on stage at the Academy Awards after the latter made a joke about the actor's wife.

Tags
Netflix, Chris rock, Hollywood, Los Angeles
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