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Dave Chapelle attacker said he was 'triggered' by LGBT comments

The man who allegedly ran on stage and tackled comedian Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl said he was “triggered” by his jokes about LGBT people and homelessness because of personal struggles he’s had related to those issues

May 25, 2022 9:08am

Updated: May 25, 2022 11:27am

The man who allegedly ran on stage and tackled comedian Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl said he was “triggered” by his jokes about LGBT people and homelessness because of personal struggles he’s had related to those issues.

Isaiah Lee, 23, said that he never wanted to harm Chapelle.

“I identify as bisexual … and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering,” he told the New York Post during an interview Saturday.

“I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect.”

Lee wanted to have a “good time” at the Netflix comedy show but grew angry as the night went on because of Chappelle’s jokes about the LGBT backlash to his most recent Netflix special, “The Closer,” and homelessness.

“I’m also a single dad and my son is 5,” said Lee, who added he had been homeless.

“It’s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know it’s not a joke.”

But the final straw was a joke by another comedian that night who made a joke about pedophilia. Lee told The Post he was molested at age 17 while in foster care.

Video shows Lee charging at and knocking down Chappelle on stage before people jumped to his aid.

“They spat on me and twisted me as if on purpose,” he said of the security guards who dragged him off the stage. The Post reports Lee arrived to the interview with a sling for his broken right arm.

The alleged attacker is facing four misdemeanor charges related to the incident, including battery and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault.

Lee is worried about how long he will be separated from his son by in prison, fearing that “my son will be big by the time I gets out.”

But he does not regret the incident because he saw it as an opportunity to speak out about homelessness, LGBT issues and child sex abuse.

“I’m sitting here talking to you about it,” Lee told The Post.