There's some pretty scary footage coming out of Columbia, SC comedy club The Comedy House this weekend. Comedian Steve Brown was attacked on stage by a crowd member. What makes this event particularly disturbing is the prolonged nature of the attack as the comedian was forced to dodge multiple attacks from the attacker for nearly 30 seconds before anyone was on stage to help him. During that time, a mic stand was swung multiple times at the Brown who was executing defensive maneuvers, as the heavy mic stand base making it into the crowd of onlookers and followed by a stool being thrown. It's not unclear as to how the event began, but heckled or not, for things to escalate to this level in a comedy club is unacceptable.
Comedyhype.com obtained some footage from the event, when you can clearly see the attacker (in light pants) going after Brown (in dark pants) for a while before help of any kind made it to the stage to break up the attack.
Update: Here's clearer video from a slightly different angle and it runs longer to show a smaller second altercation with a presumable friend of the assailant and an injured attendee trying to get help.
After the event occurred Brown took to social media to update his fans and let them know that he is okay and that the attack was unprovoked, adding that man was not being heckled or talked to when he took to the stage and started to get into it with the comedian.
Brown brought up a topic that we've covered in the past, and that's the lack of professional security at comedy clubs. "With that being said, let me say this. This unprovoked attacked that happened to me tonight is a reminder of why these comedy clubs should have well equipped PROFESSIONAL security to protect us entertainers who bring their club so much money. I thank God for looking out for me and giving my old ass the ability to Bob and weave because this could have ended in horrible way." It appears Brown made it out with just a scratch (which he later posted). But the question remains when it comes to comedy clubs, how to keep everyone safe is still very much a topic of conversation that needs to be had and clubs all over nation. Brown escaped with just a scratch but others haven't been as fortunate.
UPDATE: The police were called to scene and stated that the suspect's first name is Marvin, and was drinking while at the club. A total of 4 people, aside from Steve, were injured and want to press charges. One of the victims claimed to be a security guard and said he was punched in the face before Marvin bolted in a car. Marvin did about $400 in damages ... smashing the mic, dishes and glasses.
Also, combing through the comments with fans leaving their account of how it happened the general story seems to bee that the attacker was drinking in the front row and became more visibly distressed as the night went on. It wasn't until about 20 minutes into the performance when Brown asked him what was wrong did the attacker say something about Brown's performance. Brown stated that he could leave the club if he wasn't having a good time prompting then the attacker to slap his girlfriend (who was trying to calm him down) and jump on stage.