Comedian Dave Chappelle has been attacked during a live show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
The 48-year-old stand-up star was performing at the venue on Tuesday night as part of the Netflix Is A Joke festival when someone is seen rushing the stage.
Actor Jamie Foxx helped apprehend the alleged attacker who was subsequently dragged off stage by security personnel before the performance continued, according to US reports.
“Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat,” Chappelle said at the show’s curtain call.
A video shared on social media shows the moment the attacker stormed the stage and launched himself into the comic.
UK journalist Sharon Carpenter, who was at the show, shared her account on social media.
“Dave Chappelle was just assaulted on stage at his Hollywood Bowl show,” she said.
“He was finishing up his performance when a man ran on-stage and lunged at him knocking him to the floor. Security and his entourage then cornered the man as Dave joked about him getting ‘stomped’ backstage.”
A spokeswoman for the Hollywood Bowl said an investigation has been launched, telling the PA news agency: “The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl on May 3 2022 is an active investigation and we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Chappelle has previously faced a backlash over comments about transgender people in his Netflix comedy special, The Closer.
The comic said “gender is a fact” and shared his backing for JK Rowling, who has also attracted criticism for her remarks about the concept of biological sex.
Netflix employees were said to have reacted with anger to his comments and reportedly organised a walkout over the streaming giant’s decision to air the special.
The incident follows Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars over a joke the comic made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
It prompted members of the comedy community, including Jack Whitehall and Kathy Griffin, to voice their concerns that performers are no longer safe on stage.
