A new video shows the obvious an unprovoked attack outside a popular comedy club in New York which left former Saturday Night Live star Chris Redd briefly hospitalized.
Surveillance video outside the legendary Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village shows the attack, which took place at 10pm on Wednesday. Red is seen suddenly falling to the ground with his back to the camera in front of a crowd of people.
Police said someone, for unknown reasons and without saying a word to Red, punched the comedian in the face as he got out of his car, a few steps from the club’s entrance. Red was scheduled to do a show at the Comedy Cellar that night.
At least a dozen people witnessed the incident. Video obtained by TMZ showed the commotion shortly afterward as a woman helped Red, who collapsed at the door.
“A huge pool of blood. Huge,” said Fabrizio Cavalacci, owner of the Reggio Cafe, which is next to the comedy club and whose cameras captured the attack. “This poor guy was bleeding. The manager tried to stop the bleeding.”
Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dworman told NBC New York in an exclusive interview that they are “deeply saddened by what happened and we hope he’s OK. We want him back as soon as possible.”
Redd had a show scheduled for Thursday night, but Dworman said the comedian is still recovering from his injuries. He called Red a family member and it hurt him to see him hurt.
“Day after day we hear stories of what are senseless, disturbing and violent incidents,” Dworman said.
The owner of a longtime comedy club hopes city officials will do more to stop the violence. Police say the suspect fled after beating the comedian and has not yet been caught. The investigation is ongoing.
Red was treated for a cut on his face and later released from the hospital, police said. NBC New York reached out to Red’s team, but they did not immediately respond.
Redd was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for five seasons. Redd announced in September that he would not be returning for Season 48 in the fall.
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/new-video-shows-former-snl-star-chris-redd-attacked-outside-nyc-comedy-club/3405609/