(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) While performing at the Hollywood Bowl for Netflix’s comedy festival, comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked onstage by someone in the audience, The Sun reported.
The man, who was later revealed to be armed with a gun and a knife, tackled Chappelle as the show was ending, then attempted to flee after several of Chappelle’s security guards came from the wings to detain him.
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
Chappelle was uninjured, but the attacker was not so lucky, according to eyewitnesses who said about 10 of Chappelle’s security detail converged on him.
Videos posted to Twitter show him being loaded into an ambulance with serious injuries. The crowd booed him as he was wheeled away.
Chappelle joked about the attacker probably being a “trans man.”
Fellow comedian Chris Rock came up on stage as well, joking about it being Will Smith.
Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx also hopped on stage to help detain the attacker and ensure Chappelle was safe.
“Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” Chappelle joked.
Dave Chappelle after A Town stomping whoever attacked him pic.twitter.com/qr1z0xBoJ8
— DDOT. (@DDotOmen) May 4, 2022
“I thought that was part of the show,” Foxx responded.
“Listen, I just want to say…this man is an absolute genius. We’ve got to make sure we protect him at all times,” he continued. “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.”
Chappelle has been the target of leftist ire since his comedy special The Closer, which was released in 2021. In the special, he said “gender is a fact,” and defended Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s “controversial” remarks about gender.
When Chappelle was accused of “transphobia” and leftists attempted to cancel him, he responded:
“To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience,” he said. “But you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody’s demands.”
