Man tackled Dave Chappelle because he was ‘offended by his jokes,’ interview reveals

A man suspected of attacking comedian Dave Chappelle on-stage has said he was ‘triggered’ by the act making jokes about LGBT issues and homelessness.

Chappelle was performing a stand-up routine at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the Netflix Is A Joke tour when a man – named by LAPD as Isaiah Lee – stormed the stage and tackled him.

The LAPD later confirmed that a 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after the incident. Lee stated that he did not want to harm Chappelle, according to the New York Post’s exclusive interview with Lee from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.

Lee told the Post that he identifies as bisexual and wanted Chappelle “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 said, per the outlet.

He told the Post he was offended by Chappelle’s jokes about the LGBTQ community, and the comedian’s references to homelessness. “I’m also a single dad and my son is five,” Lee said, per the outlet. “It’s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know it’s not a joke.”

Lee also claimed that he was pummeled and spat on by Chappelle’s security, per the Post.

He also told the Post that Chappelle had asked him about his actions backstage. “I told him my mother and grandmother, who fought for his civil rights to be able to speak, would be upset at the things he said,” Lee said, per the outlet.

When asked about reports that he suffers from mental health issues, Lee said they were “wrong” and “inaccurate.” His lawyer, however, has said he is receiving mental health services.

The incident with Chapelle has also led to more criminal charges against Lee: He was charged on Thursday with stabbing his roommate last year. The victim in that case identified Lee as his alleged attacker when the Chappelle incident went viral, prosecutors said.

“It was pretty much done,” Lee said about his criminal case involving Chappelle. “But it went from me probably only doing six months [in jail] and having to do community service and living in a transitional home … to possibly 15 or more years in jail,” he added, shaking his head. “My son will be big by the time I get out.”