Chris Rock came on stage afterward and alluded to his own recent attack, quipping, "Was that Will Smith?"
Dave Chappelle continues to court controversy, even when he's clearly the victim of a shocking attack. That's what happened during his appearance at the Hollywood Bowl for the Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival.
According to ABC News and social media shares, the comedian was rushed while on stage finishing up his set and tackled to the ground by an unidentified man. The outlet reports that the duo "appeared to tussle on the stage floor," before the man ran off.
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View StoryHe didn't get very far though, as Chappelle's security -- and possibly others -- reportedly overcame the individual in the rear corner of the stage, surrounding and tackling him in response. No explanation or precipitating situation has been revealed immediately preceding the attack.
As this was happening, Chappelle reportedly ran toward the on-stage altercation, saying that the person was being "stomped," while repeatedly asking security to remove him. Video footage shared online afterward appeared to show the man's shoulder dislocated and his arm possibly broken.
After the man was removed, Chappelle could be heard on shared video joking to the audience that it was "a trans man," a clear allusion to the controversy that has surrounded him since his recent Netflix comedy special "Closer."
The Netflix Is a Joke Fest is an 11-day festival, scheduled to run until May 8. It takes place at different venues throughout the Los Angeles area and is purported to feature more than 130 different performers.
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View StoryAfter the alleged attacker was subdued, removed and taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance, per ABC News, Chris Rock came up on the stage with Chappelle. Rock, who had already performed earlier in the night, quipped, "Was that Will Smith?" Jamie Foxx also purportedly came to the stage to check on Chappelle.
Fans continue to wait for Rock to speak more openly about the shocking attack that rocked the Oscars telecast when Smith walked up to him on the stage and smacked him across the face before returning to his seat and screaming for Rock to keep his wife's name out of his mouth.
This came after Rock made a "G.I. Jane" joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith's short hairstyle, referencing the Demi Moore film. He subsequently said that he was unaware she suffered from alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did nothing at the time, allowing Smith to win a Best Actor Oscar later in the night and offer an awkward apology. He was subsequently banned from any Academy event or program for ten years. Smith accepted this decision.
You can check out footage of the altercation and its aftermath below, as shared by fans on-site through social media (warning: some footage may be graphic and NSFW).
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View StorySomeone just tried to attack Dave Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/PZI3RMRdjD
— Piñata Farms 🪅 (@pinatafarms) May 4, 2022 @pinatafarms
Suddenly a random person sitting in the front row jumped on stage and ran straight at him. He tackled Dave and they both went to the floor and began wrestling when everyone ran onstage to help, including Dave’s security…
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022 @e5quire
Part 2
The man was then grabbed by a number of people and taken back stage and probably didn’t make it out alive for all we know. Dave then came out from the back and this is where the video starts…
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022 @e5quire
Part 3 (watch the video for the rest)
Here is a video of the aftermath. #DaveChappelle handled this like a champ! #HollywoodBowl pic.twitter.com/0xaBpWsbrT
— E5QUIRE (@e5quire) May 4, 2022 @e5quire
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 @DoZay1
The idiot getting beaten down after attacking Dave Chappelle at Hollywood Bowl pic.twitter.com/Ft0FIUyjWv
— Jed Simon (@JEDSIMON) May 4, 2022 @JEDSIMON
Definitely don’t tackle #DaveChappelle while he’s performing on stage 😬 pic.twitter.com/X0Lbi8ghsf
— AlexGB.sfm (@ab_a_w_p) May 4, 2022 @ab_a_w_p
Just came out of the Hollywood Bowl where a man charged and tackled Dave Chapelle on stage and got his ass kicked by at least 10 people.
— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) May 4, 2022 @bri_sacks
LAPD and LAFD are now loading him into an ambulance pic.twitter.com/7SXPe9e8az