Dave Chappelle’s Surprise Appearance at John Mulaney’s Show Upset Audience Members

The comedian's transphobic jokes left onlookers uneasy and is allegedly the motive behind his attack in Los Angeles earlier this month.

On Friday, John Mulaneyโ€™s stop at Ohio State Universityโ€™s Value City Arena during his โ€œFrom Scratchโ€ tour featured a surprise appearance from the controversial Dave Chappelle. Audience members were forced to lock up their phones beforehand, so there is no footage of his 15-minute set.

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However, those in attendance took to social media to express how Chappelle told transphobic and homophobic jokes before Mulaney came out on stage and hugged him at the end of his performance.

One fan tweeted:

โ€œyโ€™all ever hear ~12,000 people laugh at a transphobic joke, while youโ€™re a trans person in the audience who didnโ€™t know the transphobic comedian would make a surprise appearance at the John Mulaney show? yeah. wasnโ€™t fun. fuck you D.C.โ€

Another one shared:

โ€œmy favorite part of tonight was when dave chappelle ambushed us at the john mulaney show, told a bunch of transphobic jokes, a massive stadium of people laughed, and then john mulaney hugged him at the endโ€

In addition to the criticism both men have received, Isaiah Leeโ€”the man who allegedly attacked Chappelle earlier this month at the Netflix Is A Joke festival in Los Angelesโ€”shared that his offensive stand up material is what spurred him into action. In an exclusive interview with The New York Post, Lee stated:

โ€œI identify as bisexual โ€ฆ 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.โ€ Lee also shared that his own personal circumstances led him to rushing the stage on May 3. โ€œIโ€™m also a single dad and my son is 5. Itโ€™s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know itโ€™s not a joke.โ€

The misdemeanors Lee currently face include battery, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance, commission of an act that delays the event or interferes with the performer and possessing a deadly weapon with intent to assault.

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