It’s a scary time to be a comedian. As Page Six learned, Dave Chappelle was onstage as part of the “Netflix Is A Joke” festival and nearing the end of his set when, around 10:45 p.m., a man sitting in the front row got up onstage, rushed directly at him, and tackled him to the ground. Video posted to Twitter shows the comedian staggering back as he’s hit with brutal force. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt, but LAPD spokesperson Lizeth Lomeli told the outlet that he very well could have been, as the suspect carried a fake gun hiding a very real blade. According to eyewitness accounts, it didn’t take long for security and various folks to jump in and help Chappelle. One eyewitness tweeted that the perpetrator soon “got his a** kicked by at least 10 people,” which reportedly included Jamie Foxx. Another A-lister who witnessed the whole thing was none other than Chris Rock. After coming onstage and hugging his fellow comedian, he unleashed the perfect one-liner: “Was that Will Smith?”
In the end, the suspect was taken to hospital before being booked for assault with a deadly weapon. Brushing himself off, Chappelle returned to finish his set and even told the audience, “Listen, I just want to say I’ve had an incredible time.” Many fans were impressed with his response, with one telling Page Six, “Dave handled the whole thing like a pro. Just another reason why he’s the GOAT.” However, one of Chappelle’s jokes about the situation is making some people think twice.