Howard Stern has called out celebrities for their response to the alleged attack on Dave Chappelle during a stand-up show compared to the Chris Rock Oscars slap.
Chappelle, 48, was taking part in the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: Dave Chappelle and Friends at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night (May 3) when he was jumped by an audience member that was allegedly carrying a deadly weapon.
Now, on Wednesday's episode of The Howard Stern Show, the 68-year-old radio personality has criticized Hollywood stars for their reaction, per the New York Post.
In an apparent reference to Will Smith's physical altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards, the entertainer ranted: “'This guy jumped up on stage and attacked Dave Chappelle. As soon as that happened, did they let him go back to his seat and laugh and sit next to his wife and then give them an award? No! They took him backstage, they broke his arms and hands so bad.”
He added: “They f***ing beat the s*** out of him.”
Will Smith, 53, made headlines at the Oscars on March 27 when he walked on stage and slapped the 57-year-old comedian after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's closely shaved head. However, his wife's history with alopecia, Smith clearly believed the comment crossed the line and confronted Rock.
“Unlike the Academy Awards, Jamie Foxx came running out on stage and helped Dave Chappelle,” the long-term comedian continued. “At the Academy Awards, everyone came over and consoled Will Smith — because it was live television and Hollywood didn’t know what to do about Will Smith.”
As reported by the New York Post, Chapelle's alleged attacker was identified as a 23-year-old man named Isaiah Lee, and he was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesperson Lizeth Lomeli confirmed that the alleged attacker was carrying a replica handgun that had a blade inside.
Per USA Today, after jumping on stage, the alleged attacker was then detained by the venue's security as celebrities like Rock and Jamie Foxx tended to the comedian. LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes revealed to USA Today that, following the physical altercation, Lee was transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for his sustained injuries.
Stern argued that Hollywood should not have given the actor a standing ovation at the award ceremony after he won the award for Best Actor.
“Listen! You don't treat Will Smith any different than they did the Chappelle attacker," he said. "The audience at the Oscars gave Will Smith a standing ovation after the attack, that's the truth."
“It's on film, it's not fake news. They didn't break Will's hands, they shook them and it's wrong and they all should be ashamed of themselves.”
However, Smith didn't go unpunished and was seized with a 10-year ban from the Academy Awards.