NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Comedian Dave Chappelle was tackled by an audience member who rushed the stage as he was performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Tuesday night—and the suspected attacker faces a felony assault charge.
A video purportedly shows a man charging at the 48-year-old standup comic around 10:45 p.m. local time as he was wrapping up his performance during the “Netflix Is A Joke” festival at the iconic hillside amphitheater.
The Los Angeles Police Department told NBC News that Chappelle wasn’t injured.
Farshad Dehbozorgi, a lawyer who was at the show, told the New York Times that the man “pretty much tried to tackle” Chappelle and “then they kind of tussled and wrestled and everyone kind of got involved.”
BuzzFeed News reporter Brianna Sacks was at the event and said security “rushed and started punching and kicking” the man after he tackled Chappelle.
Video later shows the man being taken away in an ambulance. He suffered “superficial injuries,” according to the police.
The suspect, 23-year-old Isaiah Lee, faces a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon, LAPD spokesperson Officer Lizeth Lomeli told Page Six.
Lee, of Los Angeles, was carrying a replica handgun with a blade, according to police. It's unclear if he attempted to use the device or what may have motivated the attack.
At some point during the incident, Jamie Foxx appeared onstage to help Chappelle. Sacks said Foxx was “looking absolutely shocked” and wearing a cowboy-style hat.
“Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” Chappelle joked after he returned to the stage.
In March, actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage during the Academy Awards. Smith was banned from attending the Oscars and any other Academy events for the next 10 years.
Rock, who was at Tuesday's event, came onstage a short time after the attack and hugged Chappelle, joking, “Was that Will Smith?”
The Smith slap sparked worries in the comedy community about audience members attacking comedians. The Manhattan comedy club Stand Up NY put up a sign warning patrons not to assault comics.
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