Thread by @latimes

Dave Chappelle had just finished thanking a friend onstage at the Hollywood Bowl when a man emerged from the crowd and tackled him.

“I am going to kill that m—,” Chappelle shouted into the microphone.

Here's what happened. lat.ms/38Wo8Ru

More than half a dozen people immediately emerged from stage right and rushed after the man, who would later be identified as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee.

Lee ran behind a backdrop as two men slipped across the stage and several others pursued him. lat.ms/3FiHY5b

“I gotta see this,” said the comedian. “Thank God that n— was clumsy. He’s back there getting stomped. Where did that s— come from?” lat.ms/38Wo8Ru

Chappelle quipped that his attacker “was a trans man,” calling back to the firestorm he ignited last fall by making jokes about transgender people during his controversial special “The Closer.”

The Hollywood Bowl audience erupted in laughter. lat.ms/3yg9jDW

Chappelle, performing during the #NetflixIsAJoke festival had just wrapped up a routine in which he talked about how comics have to worry more these days about their personal security. He brought his own security guard onstage at one point. lat.ms/3L8lJkG

Chappelle was joined at the Hollywood Bowl by Chris Rock who took the microphone from the headliner after the attack to make a self-deprecating joke of his own: “Was that Will Smith?” lat.ms/3OVm8ct

He also praised Jamie Foxx, who allegedly got involved in the scuffle, and brought him center stage: “Make some noise for Foxx. Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat.” lat.ms/38Wo8Ru

Lee, who was injured during his altercation with security officials, apparently had a replica handgun with a knife blade in his possession and was later booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

He was held on $30,000 bail. lat.ms/3FiHY5b

“Comedians and other performers may be suffering the consequences of Will Smith’s assault at the Oscars for a long time and venues now need to step up security to protect talent from attacks on stage,” says criminal defense lawyer Rachel Fiset. lat.ms/38Wo8Ru