A man police said was armed with a pistol spear rushed to the scene and collided with comedian Dave Chapel while he was performing at a comedy festival in Los Angeles late Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the attack early Wednesday, saying the weapon the man was carrying could throw away the blade of the knife “when you throw it away properly”. It is unclear whether the fan attempted to use the weapon.
Several videos and accounts posted online show the man climbing to the front of the Hollywood Bowl stage and rushing to Chappelle. At least one video shows the comedian falling to the floor with several others rushing to detain the man.
The attacker, a member of the show’s audience, was detained by security on the scene and later taken to hospital with “superficial injuries,” Los Angeles police said. An online video of the alleged attacker appeared to an unidentified man on a stretcher with his elbow bent at a strange angle.
Neither Chappelle nor any officer were injured, police said.
Buzzfeed reporter Brianna Sachs also shared a video showing the man loaded into an ambulance. Sachs said that before the attack, the comedian spoke of increased security around him as a result of the widespread reaction to jokes he made about the transgender community. Some Netflix employees took a walk in Hollywood in the fall to protest the company’s decision to introduce one of Chappelle’s comedy specials, “The Closer,” which they said included transphobic remarks.
The motive for Tuesday night’s attack is unclear.
Chappelle performed at the Hollywood Bowl Amphitheater on Tuesday night as part of Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival, which ran from April 28 to May 8. Other performers listed with Chappelle included Leslie Jones, John Stewart and Chris Rock, a comedian who also recently faced stage violence when he was hit by Will Smith at the Oscars in March.
Representatives of Dave Chapel and the Hollywood Bowl could not be found immediately for comment.
The site said on its website that the show will be a “phone-free experience” and that attendees will have to secure their phones in specially designed bags. At least one person sharing a video of the incident said he “forgot” a second phone in his bag.
Another * funny * night of legends tonight at @DaveChapelle & Friends at the Hollywood Bowl!
lineup: @ChrisRock, @realjeffreyross, @Lesdoggg, @michelleisawolf, @jimmycarr, @SebastianComedy, @jonstewart, @JABBAWOCKEEZ, @DJTRAUMA, @CoastContra, & #BlackStar
– Netflix is a joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) May 4, 2022
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