Entertainment
Dave Chappelle ‘Refuses’ to Let Attack Overshadow Comedy Set, Netflix Speaks Out on Incident
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Netflix has issued a statement after Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage while performing a comedy set during the streaming giant’s Netflix Is a Joke festival in Los Angeles. The performance was taking place at the Hollywood Bowl. A spokesperson for the streamer said, “We care deeply about the safety of creators and we strongly defend the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence.”
Video footage circulated during Chappelle’s comedy set showing a man rushing on to the stage and tackling the performer to the ground. Chappelle has been performing a number of dates at the Hollywood Bowl in the last month. The attacker was seen getting up and trying to run off stage before he was caught and tackled by what appeared to be security personnel and members of Chappelle’s team.
A spokesperson for Chappelle’s production company also issued a statement in the aftermath of the attack: “Dave Chappelle celebrated four nights of comedy and music, setting record-breaking sales for a comedian at the Hollywood Bowl. This run ties Chappelle with Monty Python for the most headlined shows by any comedian at the Hollywood Bowl, reaching 70k fans of diverse backgrounds during the first Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival, and he refuses to allow last night’s incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment.”
“As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show,” the statement adds. “Jamie Foxx and Chris Rock helped calm the crowd with humor before Chappelle introduced the last and featured musical guests for the evening, hip-hop artists yasiin bey and Talib Kweli, a.k.a. Black Star, who performed music from their new album – the first in nearly 24 years – which was released on Luminary. Other special comedic guests last night included Earthquake, Leslie Jones, Jeff Ross, Sebastian, Jon Stewart and Michelle Wolf.”
Chappelle is fully cooperating with the active police investigation into this incident. Police arrested Isaiah Lee, 23, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, according to NBC Los Angeles. He was allegedly carrying a replica gun that could discharge a knife blade and is suspected of tackling comedian Chappelle on stage Tuesday night. He’s being held on $30,000 bail.
Chappelle has been a controversial figure recently due to several Netflix comedy specials in which he made jokes about transgender people. His 2021 Netflix special “The Closer” led to company walkouts and protests last October. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos originally defended Chappelle, saying in statement that the comedian is “one of the most popular stand-ups today” and “as with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful.” Sarandos ultimately said he “screwed up” in his reaction to the Chappelle backlash.
Chappelle’s attack took place just over a month after Will Smith took to the Oscars stage to slap presenter Chris Rock, who was in attendance at Chappelle’s Netflix show, reportedly came on stage after the attack and said, “Was that Will Smith?”
The Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival kicked off April 28 and runs through May 8.
Source: variety.com
Dancehall artiste Stonebwoy has responded to Sarkodie after the rapper’s recent tweet about principles in the music industry.
In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), Stonebwoy recounted how he called Sarkodie the day after his Rapperholic show in the UK to congratulate him, adding that their conversation lasted over 10 minutes.
He noted that after his (Stonebwoy) own show at the OVO Arena, Sarkodie posted a video on social media.
“Whatever message you meant to send across, only you can explain,” Stonebwoy wrote.
According to him, after he made what he described as a factual tweet about the industry, he still reached out to Sarkodie privately because of some cryptic posts the rapper had been making.
“You called back immediately. I missed it, but I called you back after, and we spoke for more than an hour on industry, behaviors, and perspectives,” he disclosed.
Stonebwoy revealed that during their hour-long chat, Sarkodie made it clear that no artiste could be forced to uphold any principle, stressing that in the Ghanaian music industry artistes must play along as long as it benefits them.
“You were very clear about how no artiste could be ‘forced’ to uphold any form of principle. That, literally, in our industry, artistes must play along so far as it benefits them, and it cannot matter how, because we all care about different things. Which is evident in Video 1,” he stated.
Referencing two videos he shared, Stonebwoy concluded that Sarkodie’s recent tweet was equally been considered, insisting that without principle, advice is merely an opinion.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has sent a heartfelt message to his fanbase, SarkNation, urging them to move away from toxic fan culture and return to what made the group special.
In a long statement shared on social media, the rapper acknowledged SarkNation for birthing many of the fanbase trends in Ghana today, saying he doesn’t take that for granted.
He praised the “day ones”, the first wave of SarkNation, for positioning his brand with commitment and loyalty, without toxic energy.
According to him, a true SarkNation member should not be consumed by what another brand is doing.
“A true SarkNation member shouldn’t be consumed by what another brand is doing. Focus on the brand you love. No hate. No bitterness. No unnecessary competition. You don’t have to tear someone else down to prove your loyalty to Sarkodie,” he cautioned.
Sarkodie noted that as fanbases grow, dilution is inevitable, but the current trend of fanbases tearing each other down does not help the industry or the artists they claim to support.
He advised his fans not to fall for bait and online triggers, and cautioned artists against entertaining fans who insult other brands just to elevate them.
According to him, “Just because a fan sh**s on another brand to elevate you doesn’t mean they love you more… They may look like they’re fighting for you, but they genuinely don’t give AF about you.”
The rapper called on the new crop of SarkNation to learn from the old crop, whose focus was always the music, the movement and the brand.
“I know I’m still here because of God, SarkNation and hard work, so I never joke with you guys. I appreciate y’all more than you know,” he added.
