San Francisco Chronicle

Comic attacked while on stage

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LOS ANGELES — Comedian Dave Chappelle was tackled during a performanc­e at the Hollywood Bowl Tuesday night. Security guards chased and overpowere­d the attacker, and Chappelle was able to continue his performanc­e while the man was taken away in an ambulance.

The assailant was carrying a replica handgun with a knife blade inside, authoritie­s said.

Isaiah Lee, 23, was detained and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, said Officer Alba Mendez, a Los Angeles Police Department spokespers­on.

Lee was treated by medical staff for an unspecifie­d injury and was booked into the Hollywood Division jail at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday and held in lieu of $30,000 bail, Mendez said.

Mendez said a “famous comedian was performing” when Lee jumped onto the stage, tackled the celebrity and produced the replica handgun containing a knife blade. Mendez said the department did not name the celebrity because it does not confirm victim names.

Chappelle was performing his stand-up routine at the amphitheat­er as part of the “Netflix Is a Joke” festival when the man rushed on stage and tackled him. Jamie Foxx was in the wings of the stage and Chappelle thanked him for responding to the attack. Chris Rock was there as well, and jokingly asked if the attacker was Will Smith.

Chappelle was attacked as he was wrapping up a routine in which he talked about how comedians have to worry more about their personal security in the wake of this year’s Academy Awards ceremony where Oscar-winning Smith slapped Rock on live television in reaction to a joke about his wife.

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