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Dave Chappelle assault suspect charged with attempted murder over claims he stabbed a roommate

May 20, 2022, 18:04 IST
Insider
Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • The man accused of rushing Dave Chappelle onstage is now the suspect in a different crime.
  • The Los Angeles County district attorney charged Isaiah Lee with attempted murder over a stabbing.
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The suspect in Dave Chappelle's onstage assault earlier this month has been charged with attempted murder over claims he stabbed a roommate late last year.

Early in May, a man rushed and tackled Chappelle onstage at the Hollywood Bowl during the "Netflix is a Joke" comedy festival. Two days later, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that his office filed four misdemeanor charges — including battery and the possession of a weapon with the intent to assault — against the suspect, who was identified as a 23-year-old named Isaiah Lee.

On Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón filed felony charges against Lee, who's now suspected of stabbing his roommate during a fight at a transitional housing apartment on December 2. Gascon said the media buzz surrounding the attack on Chappelle caused Lee to be identified.

"The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime," Gascón said. "The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl was misdemeanor conduct and rightfully referred to the city attorney's office. Based on the nature and severity of the December attack, Mr. Lee is now facing felony charges which my office will prosecute."

Lee pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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After the attack on Chappelle, the "America's Got Talent" judge Howie Mandel described being fearful about performing standup comedy. Mandel also said Will Smith walking onstage to slap the host Chris Rock over a joke at this year's Oscars "opens a door" for people to be more violent against comedians.

A representative for Chappelle said in a statement shared with Insider that he "refuses" to let the attack "overshadow" his standup show. Chappelle also joked about it during a set at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles two days after the assault, according to the Hollywood Reporter senior writer Seth Abramovich, who was at the show.

"At least you got smacked by someone of repute!" Chappelle told Rock, who joined the comedian onstage. "I got smacked by a homeless guy with leaves in his hair."

Rock responded that he "got smacked by the softest" person to ever rap.

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