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Nearly one month ago, a Los Angeles man attacked Dave Chappelle during a stand-up show at the Hollywood Bowl. Since then, he’s pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges and revealed his motive behind the attack.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, 23-year-old Isaiah Lee admitted that he was “triggered” by Chappelle’s jokes about the LGBTQ community and homelessness during the show, but insisted he had no intentions of hurting the comedian when he ran on stage.
“I identify as bisexual,” he said. “And I wanted him to know what he said was triggering. I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect.”
Lee recalled struggling with being homeless at a point in his life. He stated that as the show went on, he grew increasingly frustrated with Chappelle’s insensitivity to the issue. Lee’s breaking point, however, was a joke about pedophilia, which he said triggered memories of him being molested as a teen.
The rapper and father was apprehended by security at the event and subsequently charged with four misdemeanor counts, including batter and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault. While Lee admits he was carrying a replica handgun with a retractable knife inside, he claimed he didn’t pull the weapon out when he approached the stage.
Lee stated the security guards, “spat on [him] and twisted [him] as if on purpose,” following the attack. Photos after the event show Lee with a broken arm and two black eyes.
Unfortunately for Lee, the viral incident had led to more criminal charges against him. As he’s not being charged for his Chappelle stunt, he will be charge for allegedly stabbing his roommate last year. The Post reports that the victim in the case was able to identify Lee as his alleged attacker after the Dave Chappelle incident went viral.
“It was pretty much done,” Lee said about the Chappelle case. “But it went from me probably only doing six months and having to do community service and living in a transitional home…to possibly 15 or more years in jail. My son will be big by the time I get out.”
We’ll keep you updated as this story continues to develop, Roomies.
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