The man who attacked Dave Chappelle while he was on stage performing in May has been sentenced to 270 days in prison.
Chappelle was performing at the “Netflix is a Joke Fest” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles when the incident occurred.
Isaiah Lee, 24, rushed the stage halfway through the comedian’s set and tackled him.
A man ran on stage and tackled Dave Chapelle at the Hollywood Bowl. He then proceeded to say “it was a trans man.” pic.twitter.com/iBJg4408HL
— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 4, 2022
Security and friends of the comedian quickly grabbed Lee and removed him from the stage.
The police have identified the man who attacked comedian Dave Chappelle on stage, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee https://t.co/Wk9toqkwko pic.twitter.com/eqR3BWcTsb
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 4, 2022
When police arrested him, they found that he was in possession of a replica gun that ejects a knife.
From LAPD – the knife that looked like a gun allegedly carried by 23-year-old Isaiah Lee when Dave Chappelle was rushed on stage at the Hollywood Bowl last night. Lee is now in custody and has been transferred to the LA County Jail downtown. pic.twitter.com/zW9jeEFpcg
— Alex Stone (@astoneabcnews) May 4, 2022
So this dude tried to Run up on stage at the hollywood bowl and tackle Dave Chapelle… maaaaaan they beat buddy so bad is whole shoulder facing the opposite direction 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/6v9SDNuGQk
— Ryan T (@SpeakRyanSpeak) May 4, 2022
The attacker claimed that he had been “triggered” by the comedian’s jokes — which are often criticized as being “transphobic” or offensive in other ways.
“I identify as bisexual … and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering,” Lee told the New York Post in an interview from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles after the incident. “I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect.”
Lee also claimed that he was inspired by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards.
On Thursday, Lee pleaded “no contest” to charges stemming from the attack — which allows a conviction without an admission of guilt.
Lee is also awaiting trial on a separate attempted murder charge for stabbing his roommate in 2021, according to the Post.
