Kevin Hart says onstage Dave Chappelle attack 'needed to happen'

Kevin Hart has shared his thoughts on the recent onstage attack on fellow comedian Dave Chappelle, which he says "needed to happen."

While visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live and speaking with guest host Mike Birbiglia (who is among the hosts filling in for Kimmel while he recovers from COVID-19), Hart was firm in his opinions on the incident. When a confused Birbiglia pushed back at the comedian's remark, Hart went on to clarify what he meant.

"Mike, do you want people to continue to think that they can cross that line? And break the barrier...?" he asked. "Somebody getting their ass whipped sends a message out to the other people — like, you know, 'I was thinking about doing that, but after seeing that I don't really wanna do that.'"

Hart continued, "I think the world that we're in right now, there's a lot of lines that have gotten blurred, and sometimes you gotta take a couple steps backwards to take a couple steps forward. And I think that moment that we just witnessed with Dave is fogging up a bigger moment."

The comedian elaborated, underscoring how Chappelle made history selling out his show but the only thing anyone is talking about is the attack, and not how professional Chappelle was in handling the situation.

"Dave went back after that and finished doing the show. And didn't let that thing be a big thing. He quickly moved on from it and got back to doing comedy and that's what a professional does," Hart explained. "Ultimately, these moments of improfessionalism should not break professionals. They shouldn't shape or mold the world that we're not being seen or viewed in. So I think it's time to get back to a place of respect for your live entertainer."

During Chappelle's Tuesday night set for the Netflix Is a Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl, an attacker later identified as 23-year-old Isaiah Lee rushed the stage, tackling him after he wrapped a routine about comedians worrying about their personal safety after the infamous moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards in response to Rock making a joke about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Along with security guards, Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx reportedly helped Chappelle fight off Lee, who police confirmed possessed a replica handgun that contained a real knife blade inside.

Following the news of Chappelle's attack, the comedian was criticized on social media for making a transphobic joke about his attacker in the wake of his strained relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community over past jokes about transgender people in his Netflix-backed Closer stand-up special.

Nevertheless, the comedian seemed unruffled by the events of the evening and its aftermath. "Dave Chappelle celebrated four nights of comedy and music, setting record-breaking sales for a comedian at the Hollywood Bowl.… and he refuses to allow last night's incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment," Carla Sims, Chappelle's publicist, said in a statement to EW. "As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show."

Watch the interview above and hear Hart's comments at the 4:00 mark.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Dave Chappelle refuses to let onstage attack 'overshadow the magic' of historic show
• Jamie Foxx helps Dave Chappelle fight off attacker who tackled him on stage during stand-up set
• Dave Chappelle's alleged attacker charged with battery, possession of a weapon