Dave Chappelle’s assailant reportedly had something important on in mind when he jumped onstage at The Hollywood Bowl. At a secret comedy show on May 5, Chappelle spilled some inside tea about his May 3 assault, per The Hollywood Reporter. The comic told his audience at Los Angeles’ The Comedy Store that he had a chat with his attacker, Isaiah Lee, just after the altercation. “I needed to talk to him,” Chappelle said. Lee explained his motivation for the assault as a means to raise awareness for his grandmother’s living situation. She had just been driven from her Brooklyn home by gentrification, Chappelle recalled Lee telling him.
Lee pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges in court, including possession of a weapon, per CNN. According to his lawyer, Lee is currently receiving mental healthcare. However, Judge Wendy Segall warned that should Lee post bail, he must stay at least 100 yards away from Chappelle and any of his performance venues.
The “Half Baked” star also shared some fond memories following the attack at The Comedy Store, including his son saying, “Dad, I love you.” Chris Rock, who knows what it’s like to get a surprise from an audience member, then joined Chappelle during his set, per The Hollywood Reporter. The two bantered about their respective incidents, with Chappelle joking to Rock, “At least you got smacked by someone of repute! I got smacked by a homeless guy with leaves in his hair.”