Dave Chappelle tackled onstage during Los Angeles stand-up show
What You Need to Know: Dave Chappelle Dave Chappelle has won multiple awards, including a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. (NCD)
ByMichelle Ewing and Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — A man is in police custody after authorities said he tackled comedian Dave Chappelle onstage Tuesday night during a stand-up show in Los Angeles.
Update 9:37 a.m. EDT May 4: The Los Angeles Police Department has identified the alleged attacker as Isaiah Lee, 23. He has been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and bail is set at $30,000, NBC News reported.
Police said Lee had been in the show audience before the attack.
An arrest has been made in an incident where a comedian was attacked while on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Isaiah Lee was charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon and bail is set at $30,000.
Update 8:52 a.m. EDT May 4: The alleged assailant used a replica gun that could eject a knife blade, KNBC reported.
While Chappelle was not injured, according to police, there is a video circulating that shows the comedian falling to the floor.
The alleged attacker was taken to an area hospital with “superficial injuries,” the Los Angeles Police Department told KNBC.
The motive for the attack has not been released, but BuzzFeed reported that Chappelle had increased security onstage because of jokes he had made about transgender people. He also spoke about the “new reality” following the incident when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
Rock had performed earlier in the night, and came back on stage later, joking, “Was that Will Smith?” ABC News reported.
Original report: According to KABC-TV, the incident occurred about 10:45 p.m. at the Hollywood Bowl. Witnesses said the man charged at Chappelle, 44, near the end of his performance at the show, “Netflix Is a Joke Presents: Dave Chappelle and Friends,” The New York Times reported. Security guards quickly intervened, witnesses told the news outlets.
KABC footage appeared to show emergency crews loading the man onto an ambulance outside the venue. Chappelle did not appear to be hurt in the attack, KABC reported.
Los Angeles police told KABC that officers detained a suspect who apparently had been carrying a knife and a gun. No further details were immediately available.
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Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years Here are some memorable photos of comedian Dave Chappelle through the years. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2002: Actor and comedian Dave Chappelle attends the world premiere screening of Universal Pictures' "Undercover Brother" at Loews Cineplex Universal Studios Cinema on May 30, 2002, in Universal City, California. (Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2003: Winner for "Best New Series," actor and comedian Dave Chappelle, celebrates onstage during Comedy Central's first-ever Awards Show "The Commies" held on November 22, 2003, at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2004: Comedian Dave Chappelle at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena on August 29, 2004, in Miami. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2006: Comedian Dave Chappelle signs DVD copies of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" on June 13, 2006, in Culver City, California. (Chad Buchanan/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2007: Comedian Dave Chappelle watches the 2007 NBA All Star Game on February 18, 2007, at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2008: In this Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, file photo, comedian Dave Chappelle attends the Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2013: Comedian Dave Chappelle, right, poses for photographs with fans during halftime of Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2014: Comedian Dave Chappelle attends the 2014 GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont on December 4, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GQ)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2015: Elaine Chappelle (left) and Dave Chappelle attend the SNL 40th Anniversary Celebration at Rockefeller Plaza on February 15, 2015, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2016: Comedian Dave Chappelle attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2017: Dave Chapelle speaks onstage at Rihanna's third annual Diamond Ball Benefitting the Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 14, 2017, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Clara Lionel Foundation)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2018: Comedian Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the 90th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2019: Comedian and honoree Dave Chappelle attends the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on October 27, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2019: Dave Chappelle arrives at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington on Oct. 27, 2019. (Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2020: Ne-Yo (left), T.I., Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart attend 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Erik Voake/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2021: Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the 36th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2022: Dave Chappelle looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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