Netflix Officially Responds To Dave Chappelle Attack At Comedy Festival
Streaming giant Netflix has officially responded to Dave Chappelle's attack during a live performance at the Netflix is a Joke festival in Los Angeles. During a set at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater on May 3, 23-year-old Isaiah Lee ran on stage, reportedly armed with a knife and a replica gun, and tackled the 48-year-old Chappelle. Lee has since been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon.
Although the man has been arrested, no apparent motive for the attack has officially been revealed. Following the attack, Chappelle quickly rebounded with no apparent injuries and promptly quipped, "That was a trans man." This was because some have speculated that controversy drummed up by Chappelle's comments about transgender issues in his recent stand-up specials Sticks & Stones, The Punchline, and The Closer may have played a role in the attack. As a response to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos' support of Chappelle following the release of his latest special, many employees staged a walkout in protest, demanding The Closer be removed from the streaming service. Sarandos has since apologized for his comments, however, the special has remained available, fueling the discourse.
Related: The Controversy Over Dave Chappelle's New Special 'The Closer' Explained
Per Variety, Netflix has officially released a statement responding to the attack against Chappelle. A spokesperson for the streamer delivered a response in support of Chappelle and denouncing violence against artists. Read the official Netflix response below.
«We care deeply about the safety of creators and we strongly defend the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence.»
A Chappelle spokesperson added:
«Dave Chappelle celebrated four nights
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