Dave Chappelle Says Diddy Saved His Life During Hollywood Bowl Attack

Dave Chappelle is crediting Diddy with saving his life during the infamous onstage attack at the Hollywood Bowl. In his new Netflix stand-up special, Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…, the comedian addressed recent backlash he’s received for expressing hope that Diddy might “get off” amid his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Chappelle told the audience that his perspective is shaped by a personal experience many people have forgotten. “I was on stage not long ago in the States and people got mad because I said maybe Puff will get off,” Chappelle said. “It’s not that I think Puff is right, but when I got attacked in L.A. at the Hollywood Bowl, people forget Puff was the guy that tackled my attacker. He saved my life.” The incident Chappelle referenced occurred in 2022, when a man rushed the stage and attacked him during a performance. While security struggled to respond quickly, Chappelle claimed that Diddy immediately intervened. “I had security that night, but they just wasn’t ready,” Chappelle joked. “They ran out, all them slipped and fell. Puffy got my attacker and tackled him. Chappelle then pivoted to dark humor, tying the chaotic moment to later headlines involving Combs. Referencing allegations that the mogul possessed large quantities of baby oil that were seized during federal raids, the comedian leaned into absurdity. “Years later, when I heard about that baby oil, I was like, what did those dudes slip on? A thousand bottles of baby oil,” Chappelle joked. “That’s a lot. It’s not illegal. It’s gross, but it’s not a crime.” While Chappelle has previously joked about Diddy’s controversies in other routines, this segment made clear that acknowledging Diddy’s role in that moment doesn’t excuse alleged behavior, but it does complicate his feelings. “That’s a hard dude to be mad at after that,” Chappelle said.

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