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Man accused of attacking comic Dave Chappelle charged with four misdemeanours

Man accused of attacking comic Dave Chappelle charged with four misdemeanours

The city's district attorney refused to bring more serious charges because the evidence did not account for a felony.
06 May, 2022

A 23-year-old man accused of attacking comedian Dave Chappelle during a performance was charged on Thursday with four misdemeanour criminal counts after the city's district attorney declined to bring more serious charges.

Isaiah Lee, who was subdued after tackling Chappelle, 48, to the stage floor on Tuesday evening, was charged by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office with battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault and two other misdemeanour counts.

"This alleged attack has got to have consequences," City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a videotaped message.

Feuer announced the misdemeanour charges just hours after the city's top prosecutor, District Attorney George Gascon, declined to prosecute Lee. A spokesman for Gascon said a review of the evidence did not show felony conduct.

Under California law a misdemeanour carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail. In Los Angeles, Feuer's office prosecutes misdemeanours while the district attorney is responsible for felony cases.

Police say Chappelle was performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday when Lee rushed at the comedian, knocking him to the ground. Lee was subdued near the back of the stage as he sought to flee.

Chappelle returned to the stage after a short break and went on with the show, ad-libbing jokes about the incident. He did not appear to be injured.

The performer's representatives said on Wednesday that he was fully cooperating with the police investigation.

"As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show," his spokesperson, Carla Sims, said in a statement on Wednesday, crediting Chris Rock and fellow comedian-actor Jamie Foxx with helping to "calm the crowd."

The attack sparked comparisons to a bizarre incident during the Academy Awards ceremony in March at which actor Will Smith smacked comic Chris Rock onstage, apparently over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock joined Chappelle onstage a short time after the attack, took the microphone and quipped, "Was that Will Smith?"

Comments

Inquisitor May 06, 2022 12:41pm
Another case of "wet lettuce" lack of serious justice for offenders by soft, imbicilic LA District Attorney George Gascon. No wonder people have beeing fleeing California as crime rates soar.
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Anonymouseee May 06, 2022 12:49pm
I love Dave Chappell.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 06, 2022 12:58pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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LOL May 06, 2022 05:34pm
Politics are everywhere.
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