Chris Rock Makes Will Smith Joke After Dave Chappelle Attacked on Stage
The attack on Chappelle comes less than two months after Chris Rock was slapped by Will Smith during the 2022 Oscars.
Chris Rock delivered some comedic relief after fellow comedian Dave Chappelle faced a shocking attack.
On Wednesday night at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, Chappelle was attacked onstage as he performed as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival. Los Angeles police confirmed to ET that a suspect jumped on stage, attacked a "famous comedian" they declined to name and allegedly pointed a handgun replica at him. Police further confirmed the replica had a knife blade, but it's unclear if the person attempted to use the blade.
Citing Los Angeles police, NBC Los Angeles reported that the attacker was taken to the hospital with "superficial injuries" while Chappelle and officers were not injured.
Police confirmed to ET that the suspect -- identified as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee -- was detained, booked on $30,000 bail and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
An eyewitness recalled to ET that Chappelle had begun his set and the audience was having a great time. The eyewitness said they saw a man walking toward the stage and climb up, but that it did not seem like anyone paid attention until the man was completely on stage. While the eyewitness initially thought the man was a staff member or part of the show, in a split second, he charged Chappelle. According to the eyewitness, the comedian did a good job of dodging the actual tackle. The eyewitness noted that, before anyone could understand what was happening, security came and quickly grabbed the attacker and everyone in the audience was in shock.
The eyewitness explained that Rock and Chappelle quickly hugged while security was taking the attacker offstage. At the time, Rock had a microphone in his hand, went up to Chapelle and asked him, "Was that Will Smith?" -- a reference to being slapped by the Oscar winner during the 2022 Oscars after making a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head.
After the attack, Chappelle said onstage, "I've been doing this 35 years -- I just stomped a n***a backstage. Always wanted to do that."
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