Isaiah Lee, the individual who tackled Dave Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in December 2022, is now suing the venue for allowing the attack to happen. The lawsuit also includes Chappelle’s security team, who allegedly beat and spat on Lee after the incident, intentionally dislocating his shoulder. Lee claims that he did not consent to being beaten or spat on and that a reasonable person in his situation would have been offended by the treatment. The lawsuit was filed one year after the incident, with the amount Lee is suing for to be determined at trial.
Lee stated in court documents that he tackled Chappelle as a form of protest against the comedian’s offensive jokes that were made throughout the night. He identifies as bisexual and wanted to convey to Chappelle that his comments were triggering. While he was arrested at the time of the incident, it was revealed that he had a replica gun that could eject a knife blade, but he claims he never intended to use it on Chappelle. Lee was treated for superficial injuries at a local hospital following the incident, and he alleged that security personnel gave him two black eyes and broke his arm during the detainment process.
According to Lee’s lawsuit, the Hollywood Bowl was aware that Chappelle made offensive jokes and should have taken precautionary measures to prevent or mitigate any potential harm caused by those jokes. However, the venue allegedly did not do so, leading to the incident that resulted in Lee’s injuries. Court documents reveal that Lee experienced a loss of mobility and life-altering wounds as a result of the attack, as well as emotional distress including anguish, fright, nervousness, anxiety, grief, shock, humiliation, and embarrassment.
Chappelle is not named as a defendant in the civil suit, which was filed on the anniversary of the incident. The lawsuit alleges that the Hollywood Bowl and its security team had a duty to exercise reasonable care in handling a violent situation like the attack on Chappelle. Lee claims that he did not agree to being subjected to the violence that followed the incident and that the actions of both the security team and Chappelle’s entourage were unjustified. The amount of damages that Lee is seeking will be determined during the trial process.
Lee’s lawsuit against the Hollywood Bowl and its security team highlights the aftermath of the incident at the 2022 “Netflix Is a Joke” festival. Lee’s actions on stage were intended to bring attention to the impact of offensive jokes made by Chappelle throughout the performance. Following his arrest and subsequent treatment for injuries, Lee has pursued legal action against the venue for allegedly failing to prevent or address the harm caused by Chappelle’s jokes. The lawsuit seeks to hold the Hollywood Bowl accountable for the lack of precautions that resulted in Lee’s physical and emotional injuries.
