Dave Chappelle addressed the incident at a secret comedy show in Los Angeles on Thursday, two nights after a man attacked him onstage at the Hollywood Bowl.
The comedian took the stage in The Comedy Store’s 70-seat Belly Room. Despite the fact that Chappelle’s appearance was a last-minute addition, pre-empting the usual Crack ‘Em Up Thursdays lineup for up-and-coming comedians, rumors began to circulate Thursday night prior to the show, and eager fans paid $160 for a ticket to see the “secret show” with an unnamed star comedian.
Kim Kardashian, Sean “Diddy” Combs, rapper Yasiin Bey, and comedian Jeff Ross were among the celebrities in the intimate crowd, which was part of the lineup for Chappelle’s Tuesday night Hollywood Bowl show. Michelle Wolf, who was also in attendance at the Tuesday night show, served as Chappelle’s opening act. Chris Rock, who was at Tuesday night’s show and, of course, was slapped by Will Smith onstage at the 2022 Oscars, joined Chappelle onstage ten minutes into his set.
Chappelle took the stage wearing a baggy tank top and smoking his favorite cigarettes, American Spirits, to a hero’s welcome from the small crowd.
Chappelle immediately brought up the Tuesday night attack at the Hollywood Bowl, saying he couldn’t see the man’s face but had a grip on his hair.
Chappelle described being embraced by his son immediately following the incident, who told him, “Dad, I love you.” Chappelle claimed that the strange sight of Jamie Foxx wearing “a sheriff’s hat” for some reason calmed him down.
Hours after the attack, Chappelle’s representative stated that, despite the “unfortunate” and “unsettling” nature of what occurred, he would not let it “overshadow the magic of” his Hollywood Bowl sets.
“A lot of people love me, it turns out,” Chappelle said of the many people who reached out after the incident: “A lot of people love me, it turns out,” he said of a group that included Louis C.K.
Rock then joined Chappelle onstage, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.
Rock sat down near Chappelle and remained there for the duration of the performance. It was two of the biggest comedians joking about the recent headline-making attacks, all taking place in a 70-seat annex of The Comedy Store. As a result, the occasion felt historic.
“At least you got smacked by someone of repute!” Chappelle joked to Rock. “I got smacked by a homeless guy with leaves in his hair.”
Rock laughed and responded, “I got smacked by the softest n—a that ever rapped.”
Later, Chappelle recalled persuading venue security to let him into the room holding his alleged assailant, 23-year-old Isaiah Lee. “I had to speak with him,” Chappelle explained. He inquired as to what might have triggered Lee’s attack, to which Lee — who Chappelle described as mentally ill — responded with a story about his grandmother from Brooklyn, who had been displaced by gentrification. According to Chappelle, the incident was intended to call attention to her condition.
The conversation eventually shifted away from the twin attacks and toward other current events, such as the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard libel lawsuit and the potential danger to Roe v. Wade.
However, the pauses were brief. The main topic of conversation that evening was Chappelle’s attack, as well as the place where it occurred.
“I’m at the [spot] where you sat in the car with Biggie Smalls when he died,” Chappelle remarked, gazing over to Combs at the close of his show. “I despise this place.” He then took his pack of cigarettes and walked out from the stage.