Accused Dave Chappelle attacker Isaiah Lee reveals why he tackled the comedian on stage several weeks ago, citing the show's offensive material. During the Netflix Is A Joke Comedy Festival at the Hollywood Bowl on May 3, a previously unidentified assailant rushed the stage and tackled Chappelle, who was in the midst of a comedy set. The attacker, who was reportedly in possession of a replica handgun with a retractable knife, was swiftly apprehended by security and ushered off stage, suffering a broken arm.

In the months before the incident, Chappelle had been criticized by trans people and their allies for his Netflix comedy special, The Closer, which included jokes that targeted the transgender community. A group of Netflix employees staged a walkout protesting the special and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos' refusal to remove it from the platform. Immediately following the attack on May 3, Chappelle referenced these previous criticisms when he reacted to the attack by saying to the crowd, "That was a trans man," before fellow comedian Chris Rock took to the stage in support.

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In a new report from the New York Post, Lee reveals the reason behind rushing the stage, saying he was "triggered" by Chappelle's offensive jokes about the LGBTQ+ community and homelessness. The Los Angeles resident, who is currently facing four misdemeanor counts, claims that his breaking point at the show was a particularly crude joke from Chappelle about pedophilia. Lee says that brought back painful memories of being molested as a teen. Read Lee's comments about the incident below:

“I identify as bisexual … and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering. I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect.

“I’m also a single dad and my son is 5. It’s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know it’s not a joke.”

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The attack on Chappelle resulted in an outpouring of support from other comedians. Many seemed distressed over the physical attack indicating their time on stage could open them up to similar circumstances. Kevin Hart expressed hope that the quick response in the moment would discourage future would-be attackers from taking the stage to assault a comedian.

It remains to be seen what the long-term effects of the attack on Chappelle will be in the comedy community, but it seems likely that some high-profile comedians will employ additional security at comedy shows in the future. Chappelle has yet to issue a response to Lee's comments. It's possible that the comedian will address the issue in future performances.

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Source: New York Post