Controversial US comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked whilst performing a show last night (Tuesday, May 3) after an audience member attempted to tackle him to the ground. It comes just weeks after stand-up Chris Rock was slapped by actor Will Smith in front of a global TV audience at the nearby Oscars ceremony, an incident it was feared might inspire copycat events and which highlighted the subject of on-stage security.
Chappelle, 48, was performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as part of the Netflix Is A Joke festival when a man emerged from the crowd and ran into him, hitting him at waist height before falling to the floor. Actor Jamie Foxx then ran on stage to see if Chappelle was okay and to help others detain the attacker.
The comic, who was reportedly unhurt, later paid tribute to Foxx, saying, "Shout out to Jamie Foxx by the way. Whenever you're in trouble, he will show up in a sheriff's hat." Foxx, who was heard admitting he thought the skirmish had been part of the show, replied, " 'Listen, I just want to say, this man is an absolute genius. We've got to make sure we protect him at all times.
Read more: Will Smith issues public apology to Chris Rock for 'unacceptable and inexcusable' Oscars incident
"For every comedian who comes out here, this means everything. You're a genius. You're a legend, I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and we're not going to let nothing happen to you." Chris Rock, who featured on the same bill, was also heard to joke, "Was that Will Smith?"
Meanwhile, UK comedian Jimmy Carr tweeted a picture of himself with Chappelle at the venue. "The Hollywood Bowl show with the legendary Dave Chappelle was crazy. Just happy everyone’s ok," he wrote.
Video on social media, shot after the incident, appeared to show the attacker on a stretcher, sporting various injuries, being placed into the back of a waiting ambulance. Chappelle came under fire last year over jokes about the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans people, in his 2021 Netflix comedy show The Closer.
The controversial special prompted Netflix staff to protest and mass outrage on social media against some of the material therein. Chapelle later commented that he would be open to meeting transgender employees of the streaming company but would not be "bending to anyone’s demands."
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