Saturday Night Live Star Viciously Attacked at NYC Nightclub
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Redd was attacked outside of a New York City comedy club Wednesday evening.
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Redd was hospitalized early Thursday morning after he was attacked outside of a New York City comedy club by at least one unidentified assailant. TMZ broke the story, and posted video showing Redd being treated and blood on the steps outside of the club. According to reports, the NBC star was attacked outside of the Comedy Cellar in New York City’s Greenwich Village late Wednesday night, just as he was exiting a car to enter the club by a man who ran up and sucker punched him.
The punch left a large gash in Redd’s nose, and he bled profusely on the steps outside leading down to the club, as video posted by TMZ shows. The suspect was reportedly wearing a security guard’s uniform, and was hanging around outside the club for some time prior to Redd’s arrival, leading some to believe he was waiting specifically for him, and it was not a random crime. Witnesses also say he may have been in the company of a second man, who did not participate in the attack and was also not identified.
Witnesses told TMZ the assailant also attempted to steal Redd’s Greg Yuna chain, but it fell apart and was recovered at the scene. The former Saturday Night Live star was treated at the scene by club staff and bystanders, as well as police after they arrived. He was taken to nearby Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, and he was treated and released sometime Thursday morning.
Redd just left Saturday Night Live in September, after being a member of the cast for five years. He quickly became an audience favorite, and was best known for his impression of Kanye West. He joined the show for the 2017 season, and was one of several who were part of a mass exodus of cast members who left the show prior to this season, including Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Pete Davidson, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari.
In a strange twist, shortly after he left the show, it was revealed that he was dating the estranged wife of his former Saturday Night Live co-star Kenan Thompson. Redd even appeared on Thompson’s NBC series Kenan, appearing on all 20 episodes until being canceled earlier this year. TMZ was the first to report on their relationship.
Thompson had been separated from his wife Christina Evangeline, a model, for several years, but they reportedly still lived together to raise their children. Divorce proceedings began earlier this year after the two physically separated. It is not clear if Thompson was aware of the relationship, and he continues as a cast member of Saturday Night Live.
The incident comes as Redd’s new comedy special premieres on HBO next week.
Redd got his start on the comedy series Last Laff in 2012. He later appeared on Chicago P.D., Swiping, Comedy Bang! Bang! and Empire. His movie appearances include Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping in 2016 and Joker in 2019.
