Topline
The Los Angeles District Attorney has declined to file felony charges against the man accused of attacking Dave Chappelle on stage Tuesday night during a stand-up comedy show, the DA’s office said Thursday—but misdemeanor charges are still possible.
Dave Chappelle looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February … [+]
Key Facts
In a statement to Forbes, the DA said prosecutors determined “while criminal conduct occurred, the evidence as presented did not constitute felony conduct.”
The DA’s office referred the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which could file misdemeanor charges.
Carla Sims, a representative for Chappelle, told Forbes on Wednesday the comedian is “fully cooperating” with the police investigation.
Forbes has reached out to the LA City Attorney’s Office and Chappelle for comment.
Key Background
During the “Netflix Is A Joke” comedy show at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday, a man from the audience jumped on stage and tackled Chappelle. The man was allegedly holding a replica handgun that contained a knife blade, the Los Angeles Police Department said, though Chappelle was not harmed during the attack. Police arrested 23-year-old Isaiah Lee for felony assault with a deadly weapon, and he was held on $30,000 bail. In a statement to Forbes on Wednesday, Netflix said it “strongly defend[s]
the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence” and the company “cares deeply about” its creators. Sims said the attack was “unfortunate and unsettling.”
Tangent
Oddly, comedian Chris Rock—who was recently slapped on stage at the Oscars by Will Smith after he joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith—was present for Chappelle’s attack. Rock reportedly took the stage after Chappelle was tackled and joked, “was that Will Smith?”
Further Reading
Dave Chappelle Says He’s ‘Fully Cooperating’ With Police Investigation Into Attack (Forbes)
Comedian Dave Chappelle Attacked On Stage During Netflix Stand-Up Special In Los Angeles (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/05/05/la-district-attorney-wont-press-felony-charges-against-alleged-dave-chappelle-attacker/