Former Saturday Night Live star Chris Redd was attacked near a New York comedy club on Wednesday night.
The 37-year-old comedian and actor was beaten by an unknown assailant outside the Comedy Cellar after arriving at the venue, an NYPD spokesman confirmed to .
A preliminary investigation determined the attack took place after Redd exited a vehicle in front of the club. At that point, the actor was approached and slapped in the face by an unidentified person “without prior conversation or provocation,” according to the NYPD spokesman. The person fled the scene and Redd was left with a laceration to his face.
After emergency medical services arrived at the scene, Redd was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and then discharged.
THR has reached out to Redd and the Comedy Cellar representatives.
Redd is scheduled to perform as part of a series of evening shows at the Comedy Cellar, including three on Thursday October 27th. He is also currently scheduled for an October 30th show at City Winery.
Earlier this fall, Redd announced his departure from Saturday Night Live ahead of the premiere of its 48th season.
He was among eight cast members who left in one of the biggest cast changes in the show’s history. Also eliminated prior to the current season were Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and featured player Aristotle Athari.
Redd first joined the show as a main cast member in the 2017-2018 season before being promoted to the main cast in 2019. While on the show, his work on the song “Come Back Barack” earned him a 2018 Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics. He shared this honor with fellow lyricists Kenan Thompson and Will Stephen, and composer Eli Brueggemann.
Outside of SNL, Redd has appeared on the NBC series Kenan and the Peacock series Bust Down. His new comedy special on HBO Max, Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This?, will premiere November 3.