Ben Mulry
Wow, it is a rough time to be a comedian. First the Will Smith meltdown at the Oscars where he assaulted Chris Rock, then only a few weeks later while filming a Netflix special, an assailant rushed onstage and tried to tackle Chappelle before getting his ass kicked by security.
Like the true professional he is, Chappelle played it off like a champ, even making a joke about the guy who rushed him being Will Smith.
The attacker, Isaiah Lee, was charged with a misdemeanor after being sent before the City’s attorney’s office.
Before any of the Chappelle drama went down, there was an open investigation into the December stabbing of Lee’s roommate at a transitional housing facility, a crime now being attributed to Isaiah Lee. District Attorney George Gascòn said, “The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime”. Seems like this guy has been on a bit of a violent streak, and while I don’t ever think comedians should have to fear physical violence, I am glad this event led to a crime potentially being solved.
Lee has pleaded not guilty and will go before the court again in early June.
