Howie Mandel says Will Smith slapping Chris Rock ‘opened the floodgates’ for Dave Chappelle attack

The attack on Dave Chappelle was an assault on comedy at large, according to at least one comic.

Howie Mandel told E! News’ “Daily Pop” Wednesday that he is “absolutely” afraid to return to the stage.

“I was before even last night but last night kind of is my worst fear come true. Not to comment on what happened at the Academy Awards, but I thought that that opened the floodgates for people,” said the Canadian-born comedian, 66.

“We’re already as comedians being attacked as far as being canceled for something that you don’t like, something that you find offensive, something that you think is too soon. And then you saw what happened at the Academy Awards.”

The “Deal or No Deal” host was clearly referring to the Slap Heard ‘Round the World — in which Will Smith took to the Oscars stage in late March to hit Chris Rock. The altercation followed the Brooklyn-raised comedian, 57, joking that Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, resembled “G.I. Jane 2″ due to her shaved head. The “Red Table Talk” host, 50, suffers from the hair loss condition alopecia and Smith, 53, said he was defending her honor.

The “King Richard” star, who subsequently accepted the award for best actor, was controversially not removed from the ceremony following the slap. In the ensuing days, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences initiated a formal review before Smith resigned from the academy. He was later issued a 10-year ban on attending any and all academy events.

“Violence triggers violence. And I think this is the beginning of the end for comedy. I really believe that. And that isn’t bull,” said Mandel, referring to the title of his latest hosting gig on Netflix’s “Bullsh*t the Game Show.”

He noted that after in the 45 years he’s been doing comedy, he was most concerned that his jokes would fall flat “and there’d be silence.”

“There shouldn’t be fear for my own well-being, and that exists right now,” said Mandel.

Emmy winner Chappelle, 48, was tackled Tuesday night by a 23-year-old audience member who rushed the stage at the Hollywood Bowl during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. Isaiah Lee has been identified as the suspect, who at the time was armed with a fake gun which could eject a blade, has since been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon.

Netflix subsequently released a statement, noting, “We care deeply about the safety of creators and we strongly defend the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence.”

Chappelle has stood by his controversial material referring to the transgender community.

Rock and Jamie Foxx were also at the event Monday and helped Chappelle, with Rock quipping, “I thought that was Will Smith!” in one of the rare allusions he’s made to the March altercation.

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