American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked while performing on stage at Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival in Los Angeles.
Chappelle was on stage at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday (3 May) when an onlooker ran on stage and tackled him to the ground, according to footage circulating on social media.
Brianna Sacks, a reporter at the show, described how the man 'charged' just as Chappelle's show was coming to an end, after which security 'rushed and started punching and kicking the s*** out of Chappelle's attacker'.
Journalist Sharon Carpenter also posted a tweet about the incident, claiming Chappelle was 'assaulted' on the stage when the man 'ran on-stage and lunged at him knocking him to the floor'.
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"Security & his entourage then cornered the man as Dave joked about how him getting 'stomped' backstage [sic]," she added.
The comedian stayed on stage in spite of the disruption, and after recovering his composure he appeared to joke: "It was a trans man." The comment comes in reference to ongoing controversy about some of Chappelle's jokes which have led to him being accused of transphobia.
Comedian and actor Jamie Foxx is said to have run onto stage to help the star, with Chappelle thanking Foxx for his support.
"Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” he said.
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Foxx responded to say he thought the attack was 'part of the show'.
The Netflix Is A Joke festival kicked off on April 28 with performances from stars including Seth Rogen, Arsenio Hall, Pete Davidson, Snoop Dogg and Bill Burr.
Chappelle's show was set to be a 'phone-free experience', according to the Netflix Is A Joke site, though the footage circulating online indicates not everyone adhered to the rules.
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It explained: "Upon arrival at the venue, phones will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times, and can access them throughout the event only in designated Phone Use Areas within the venue."
In the aftermath of the attack, footage shared by Sacks showed the apparent attacker lying on a gurney and being loaded into an ambulance to be taken to a hospital. Chappelle does not appear to have sustained any injuries as a result of the attack.
Los Angeles police confirmed to ABC 7 they responded to an incident at the Hollywood Bowl around 10:45pm local time on Tuesday, adding that a man who was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife was taken into custody.
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Emily Brown