Chris Redd punched in the face ahead of Comedy Cellar show in Manhattan - The A.V. Club

All comedians person to larn to grip a heckler oregon two—emboldening critics is often conscionable different time connected the job. But getting punched successful the look earlier adjacent stepping onstage to perform? That’s 1 for the books for anyone, adjacent successful a post-Slap era.

Unfortunately, a pre-set onslaught was precisely the plight Saturday Night Live alum Chris Redd faced astatine Manhattan drama venue the Comedy Cellar connected Wednesday night, erstwhile an chartless assailant struck him crossed the look ahead.

Per an archetypal constabulary probe obtained by New York’s ABC7 Eyewitness News, Redd was exiting his conveyance astir 9:40 P.M. E.T. connected Wednesday nighttime erstwhile an chartless assailant charged him. The attacker (who was reportedly disguised arsenic a information guard) punched Redd successful the look earlier fleeing the scene.

After the incident, Redd was reportedly transported to Bellevue Hospital with a profusely bleeding nose. No arrests person been made yet successful the altercation, though the perpetrator has been described arsenic wearing a “blue ‘security’ jacket, achromatic pants, achromatic grey and achromatic sneakers and a bucket hat.” It’s inactive not precisely wide what spurned the battle connected Redd, and the attacker inactive hasn’t been identified.

Regardless of motive, this isn’t the archetypal incidental of onstage unit against comedians this year. At the Netflix Is A Joke Festival successful May, Dave Chappelle was attacked onstage astatine the extremity of his set. After the attacker, Isaiah Lee, was apprehended, the LAPD confirmed helium had been successful possession of a limb that could “eject a knife.”

In examination to Redd, Chappelle’s basal up has go rightfully maligned successful caller years, owed to the comedian’s extended exploration of blatantly transphobic content. But adjacent from an activism standpoint, it’s hard to reason that clocking your evening’s amusement successful the jaw earlier oregon during their clip onstage is the astir restorative mode to explicit dissent.