Dave Chappelle Attacked on Stage, Jokes It Was a Trans Man

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 4, 2022 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 4, 2022 |

While performing for the Netflix Is A Joke Festival at the Hollywood Bowl last night, Dave Chappelle was assaulted when an audience member rushed the stage.

Dave Chappelle just got attacked on stage

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— Hoodville (@Hoodville_) May 4, 2022

Chappelle was not hurt in the incident, although the audience member who assaulted Chappelle had the holy hell beat out of him by Chappelle’s security team (and apparently, Jamie Foxx). It appears from this video that his arm was broken during the scuffle.

The attacker was captured on video being loaded on a gurney after getting beat up by Chappelle’s team (and apparently Jamie Foxx?)

After the melee, Chappelle brought Chris Rock out onstage, who joked “it was Will Smith” https://t.co/Lv1MigYOB5

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— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 4, 2022

Chappelle joked afterward, “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I just stomped a [n-word-backstage. I’ve always wanted to do that,” while Jamie Foxx added, “For every comedian who comes out here, this means everything. You’re a genius. You’re a legend, I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and we’re not going to let nothing happen to you.” In the wake of Slapgate, it certainly raises renewed concerns about comedians being assaulted. In fact, later Chris Rock came on stage and joked, “Will [Smith], was that you?”

Any sympathy that Chappelle may have drawn from the attack, however, will no doubt be diminished by the joke he made immediately afterward, suggesting that the attacker was a “trans man,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, reigniting the very controversy that got him “canceled” (and by “canceled,” we mean: Headlining an 11-day comedy festival for Netflix).

It is truly unfortunate that Chappelle was attacked on stage, and we are glad he was not hurt. It is also unfortunate that Chappelle used the attack to again target the trans community.

The 11-day festival is taking place in 25 venues with 130 comedians, including Seth Rogen, Chris Rock, Chelsea Handler, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, and Conan O’Brien, an expense that — along with the controversy surrounding Chappelle — no doubt has contributed to the collapse of Netflix’s stock.