Chris Rock Responds To Dave Chappelle Attack On Stage: "Was That Will Smith?"

Shortly after Dave Chappelle was attacked by a fan Tuesday (May 3) at the Hollywood Bowl, Chris Rock came on stage and cracked about a similar incident that happened to him not too long ago.

“Was that Will Smith?” Rock, 57, teased as he put his arm around Chappelle, 48,  after the attack, according to a video circulating online.

Rock, who performed a set earlier in the night, was referring to the infamous slap Will Smith gave him at this year's Oscars after joking about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Smith resigned from the Academy soon after and was later banned from attending any Academy event or program, including the Oscars, for 10 years.

Chappelle's performance was part of Netflix Is A Joke Festival, which runs until May 8 and features more than 130 performers at various venues across Los Angeles. Some of the shows will be taped to stream on — where else? — Netflix. 

In videos shared on social media, Chappelle can be seen standing on stage when a man suddenly charges at him from the side.

Security guards and actor Jamie Foxx ran on stage to help the comedian, while another video allegedly shows the man being detained by guards at the venue.

Chappelle later told the crowd: "I grabbed the back of that n***** head, his hair was spongy, absorbent."

While Foxx added: "Listen, I just want to say I’ve had an incredible time. This guy is a genius, we’ve got to protect him at all times, man. This is what it’s about.

"For every comedian that comes out here, this means everything. You’re a genius, you’re a legend, I enjoyed myself thoroughly and we’re not gonna let nothing happen to you."

In another short clip seemingly taken after the incident, Chappelle appears to joke that the alleged attacker was a "trans man".

The comedian previously faced a lot of backlash with fans accusing him of making transphobic comments in his 2021 Netflix special The Closer.

ABC News reported that Chappelle asked repeatedly for security to remove the attacker from the stage. 

A Hollywood Bowl representative said in a statement, "The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl on May 3 2022 is an active investigation and we are unable to comment further at this time."

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos