Former Saturday Night Live star Chris Redd was punched in the face outside a New York comedy club and hospitalized in what police say was an unprovoked attack, per NBC News.
According to the New York City Police Department, Redd was attacked on Wednesday (October 26) night in front of Manhattan's Comedy Cellar, where the comedian was set to perform.
Redd had just got out of a vehicle outside of the club when an unknown individual approached him and punched him in the face, police said. According to TMZ, the attacker was wearing brass knuckles during the hit.
Police said the suspect struck Redd “without prior conversation or provocation.” The attacker fled after hitting him, and Redd was found with a laceration to his face, according to police. The former SNL star was taken to NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue where he was treated and later released.
Fabrizio Cavallacci, the owner of Cafe Reggio, which is next door to the comedy club, said there was a "huge pool of blood on the ground" following the altercation. The cafe's surveillance cameras caught the attack on tape.
“This poor guy was bleeding. The manager was trying to stop the bleeding," Cavallacci told NBC New York.
Comedy Cellar Owner Noam Dworman said they are “deeply upset about what happened and we hope he’s okay. We want him back as soon as possible.”
“Day to day we’re hearing of stories that are senseless, disturbing, and violent incidents,” Dworman said.
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