Dave Chappelle Gives His First Statement Since Hollywood Bowl Attack

Dave Chappelle was attacked during a recent comedy set at the Hollywood Bowl. The shocking turn of events surprised many, with celebrities from the industry calling for strict actions against the attacker. Howard Stern even pointed out the hypocrisy in handling of the situation as it draws many similarities to what unfolded at the 2022 Oscars ceremony. Meanwhile, Dave has finally addressed the shocking incident.

Carla Sims, Chappelle’s representative, said in a statement to CNN, “As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show,” Dave’s representative further shared that,  “Jamie Foxx and Chris Rock helped calm the crowd with humor before Chappelle introduced the last and featured musical guests for the evening.”

The Los Angeles Police Department stated the man was carrying a “replica handgun” with a knife blade inside when he tackled Chappelle. After he tackled Chappelle, the man attempted to flee the area but was quickly surrounded and “stomped out.”  The man who attacked Chappelle was later identified as Isaiah Lee.

Images and video from the scene show the damage to Lee’s body, most notably a severely disfigured arm. LAPD spokesperson Officer Lizeth Lomeli told the outlet that Chappelle “had finished his act and as he was exiting the stage, a male who was part of the audience jumped on the stage and tackle(d) this celebrity to the ground.”

The attack could have been really deadly for Chappelle if it actually connected since the knife is real. The comedian was saved just in nick of time. Following the incident, the Laugh Factory is now deploying a metal detector at the front door for the first time ever. Stay tuned to Thirsty for future updates.

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