OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
After the incident with Will Smith attacking comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards another attack on a popular comedian has occurred.
Video that has been going around online appears to show comedian Dave Chappelle, star of “Chappelle Show,” being attacked on stage.
ABC17 reported:
Exclusive footage from AIR7 HD captured the apparent attacker on a gurney and being loaded into an ambulance to be taken to a hospital.
Witnesses at the show took to social media, saying that the man rushed the stage and tackled Chappelle.
According to ABC News, Chappelle and the man tussled on the stage floor before the man ran away behind a screen on stage. Security staff surrounded and tackled the man in the rear corner of the stage.
Chappelle appeared to run toward the altercation, saying the man was being “stomped.” Chappelle asked repeatedly for security to remove the man from stage.
Los Angeles police confirmed to Eyewitness News that they responded to an incident at the Hollywood Bowl around 10:45 p.m. and a man who was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife was taken into custody. The man has not been identified.
The comedian continued with the show after the attack, appearing to be uninjured, as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Fest.
After the attack Rock, who was attacked by Smith at the Oscars and who was performing on this night, ran on stage, grabbed the microphone and said “Was that Will Smith?”
Chris rock after Dave Chappelle get attacked on stage “is that will smith “😂 pic.twitter.com/hw4PWZWC6y
— abdulaziz (@abdulaziz0m) May 4, 2022
Someone attacked Dave Chappelle at his show and his security team left that man looking like Mojo JoJo. pic.twitter.com/pna2642x7G
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) May 4, 2022
After the incident at the Oscars Will Smith has officially apologized to comedian Chris Rock for slapping him while he was on stage at the Academy Awards Sunday evening following a joke about the actor’s wife.
The assault, which occurred during a live portion of the show, occurred after Rock told a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head amid her ongoing battle with hair loss.
In his apology, Smith said he was “out of line” and “wrong” for striking Rock, The Daily Wire reported.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” the 53-year-old actor captioned his post on Instagram. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” he noted further.”I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” Smith noted further. “I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.”
As previously reported, Rock declined to press charges against Smith, though the smack was seen by many as criminal assault.
A full statement from the Los Angeles Police Department said: “LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
Rock jokingly compared Pinkett Smith’s shaved head to the look of Demi Moore in the 1997 movie “G.I. Jane.”
(Warning: The video clip below features strong language)
Full video/audio of Will Smith vs. Chris Rock. (NSFW language obviously.) #Oscars pic.twitter.com/k7pX27lI3J
— Adam Silverstein (@SilversteinAdam) March 28, 2022
“Jada, I love ya,” Rock told the audience. “G.I. Jane 2 movie, can’t wait to see it.”
Smith stood up, walked onto the stage, and slaps Rock.
Smith returned to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***king mouth!”
“Oh wow, wow. Will Smith just smacked the sh** outta me,” Rock announced to the crowd.
“Wow, dude,” Rock replied. “It was a G.I. Jane joke.”
