Holly MatkinLos Angeles, CA – Comedian Dave Chappelle was tackled by an armed suspect who jumped on stage while he was performing at a comedy festival on Tuesday night (videos below).
The chaotic scene unfolded during Chappelle’s act at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater on May 3, KNBC reported.
Video footage showed the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee, as he rushed the stage and charged towards the comedian, KABC reported.
Chappelle, 48, briefly fought with his attacker on the floor of the stage before Lee jumped up and ran off behind a screen.
He was quickly tackled to the ground by security personnel, KABC reported.
Chapelle said the suspect was being “stomped” by security and repeatedly told them to get Lee off the stage.
Fellow comedian Chris Rock came out a moment later and grabbed the microphone, video footage showed.
“Was that Will Smith?” he asked the crowd, referencing the infamous incident where he was slapped by the Hollywood actor in the middle of the Academy Awards show in March.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said Lee was armed with a replica firearm when he attacked Chappelle, KNBC reported.
Police said the weapon is capable of ejecting a knife blade “when you discharge it correctly,” according to the news outlet.
It is unclear whether or not Lee attempted to use the weapon during the attack.
Lee was booked into jail on a felony charge of assault with a weapon, KNBC reported.
His bond was set at $30,000.
Chappelle was not injured during the incident, but cell phone footage from outside the venue showed Lee sitting on a gurney as he was being loaded into an ambulance, KNBC reported.
Police said Lee was transported to the hospital to be treated for “superficial injuries,” according to the news outlet.
Watch the incident unfold in the videos below. Warning – Graphic Content:
This dude tackled Dave Chappelle like he in the NFL 😮 pic.twitter.com/mNl6QUVBP6
— Chalice ✨ (@HeyChalice) May 4, 2022
Dave Chapelle getting tackled #davechappelle pic.twitter.com/CeMtLvv2Zv
— Kyle Foley (@kylefoley) May 4, 2022
Bruh Dave Chapelle got tackled at his stand up comedy show tonight by this mf and they took the homie backstage…. This is what he looked like 15 mins after they brought him back out 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/8FqWIJGDnx
— Classify 😼 (@Class) May 4, 2022
Sandy Malone