Dave Chappelle’s Attacker Faces Attempted Murder Charge For Separate Incident, Says Netflix Is A Joke Assault Was “Triggered” By Comedian’s Jokes About The LGBTQ Community
Josh Berger
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Isaiah Lee, the man who attempted to assault Dave Chappelle during his recent Netflix is a Joke performance has not only revealed that he was motivated to attack the comedian after being “triggered” by his jokes regarding the LGBTQ community and homelessness, but now faces a separate charge of attempted murder charge for a previous and separate incident.
Source: Dave Chappelle: Equanimity (2017), Netflix
RELATED: Dave Chappelle Issues Statement After Being Attacked During Netflix Is A Joke Comedy Festival
“I identify as bisexual…and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering,” said Lee during a jailhouse interview with The New York Post published on May 22nd. “I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect.”
As per Lee’s testimony, he expected to have a “good time” at the comedian’s Netflix Is A Joke show, but became incensed after Chappelle made joking reference to both his ‘controversial’ history with the LGBTQ community and the topic of homelessness.
Source: CBS Los Angeles, YouTube
“I’m also a single dad and my son is five,” Lee added, disclosing that he was homeless at a point in his life and describing it as struggle. “I wanted Dave Chappelle to know it’s not a joke.”
He would further tell the outlet that his breaking point that night came when a comedian who took the stage prior to Chappelle joked about pedophilia, which Lee said triggered past memories of his own alleged molestation at the age of 17 “while under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles.”
Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles, YouTube
just a three days prior to the publication of this interview, The Daily Mail additionally reported that Lee is now facing attempted murder charges for a separate situation in which he allegedly stabbed his roommate at a ‘transitional housing program’ often reserved for the homeless.
Interestingly, District Attorney George Gascón has revealed that it was Lee’s attack on Chappelle that helped Los Angeles officials identify him as a suspect in the December 2021 crime.
Dave Chappelle and Friends. Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl for Netflix Is A Joke Fest. Cr. Mathieu Bitton/Netflix © 2022
“The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime,” said Gascón in a statement issued to the media. “The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl was misdemeanor conduct and rightfully referred to the City Attorney’s Office.”
He concluded, “Based on the nature and severity of the December attack, Mr. Lee is now facing felony charges which my office will prosecute.”
Lee has pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder and is expected to return to court on the 2nd of June. If convicted for this charge, Lee faces up to 18 months in jail.
#davechappelle attacked at #hollywoodbowl #netflixisajoke pic.twitter.com/oP04S0de90
— abazar 🦇🔊 (@abazar) May 4, 2022
Notably, following the attack on the stage of Netflix Is A Joke, Gascón declined to press felony charges against Lee.
Instead, Lee has been charged with four misdemeanour charges for “battery, possessing a deadly weapon with intent to assault, unlawfully crossing from a spectator area onto a stage at a theatrical event and interfering with or delaying such an event with unlawful conduct.”
Dave Chappelle and Friends. Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl for Netflix Is A Joke Fest. Cr. Mathieu Bitton/Netflix © 2022
The comedian was not thrilled to find out about the DA’s decision to not press felony charges on Lee. Issuing a statement through his lawyer, Gabriel Colwell, Chappelle encouraged Gascón to “reconsider, correct this mistake and charge this as a felony.”
“This is what Mr. Chappelle wants,” Colwell told Rolling Stone. “Mr. Chappelle wants this case charged as a felony, he continued, adding, “Entertainers in Los Angeles need to know that the justice system will protect them on stage.”
Source: Dave Chappelle: Sticks and Stones (2019), Netflix
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