Attendees planning to see Dave Chappelle on Minneapolis’ iconic First Avenue will have to reroute to the Varsity Theater tonight. On Wednesday night, the venue originally scheduled to host the comedian announced it would cancel the show hours before its scheduled time.
Apologizing to its staff, artists and the community, First Avenue organizers said in a statement that we must “hold ourselves to the highest standards.”
“We are not just a black box with people in it, and we understand that First Ave is not just a room, but matters beyond our walls,” the venue wrote. “The team at First Avenue and you have worked hard to make our halls the safest places in the country, and we will continue that mission.”
Those planning to attend the show should have received an email with information about the comedy event’s new venue, the Varsity Theatre, two and a half miles away.
We hear you. Tonight’s show has been canceled at First Avenue and moved to the Varsity Theatre. See our full statement for more. pic.twitter.com/tkf7rz0cc7
— First Avenue (@FirstAvenue) July 20, 2022
“We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, but in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact it would have,” the site wrote. “We know there are some who will disagree with this decision; you can send feedback.’
The cancellation and change of venue comes as activists staged a protest outside the venue, which is now moving to the Varsity Theatre. Local reporter Grace Birnstengel of MPR News said she spoke with “distraught employees” at the venue Tuesday, some of whom planned to call in sick the night of the show. A First Avenue representative said they could not confirm whether staff had walked off the job to protest the show.
Representatives for First Avenue and Chappelle did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s requests for comment.
Chappelle has long faced backlash for his transphobic jokes, particularly those featured in October’s stand-up special, The Closer. Chappelle called herself a TERF and said Caitlyn Jenner winning Woman of the Year was like BET giving Eminem a N— of the Year award.
The Netflix special prompted staffers at the streaming service to walk out, demanding that Netflix acknowledge the detrimental effect material like Chappelle’s can have on the LGBTQ community, while demanding that the service release more LGBTQ content.
At the time, Chappelle seemed to enjoy the controversy. A statement from the comedian’s rep said he “stands by his art” but is seemingly open to discussing the issues with the special. Probably the closest thing to that kind of conversation happened about a month later during a contentious question-and-answer session with students at the former Chapelle High School in D.C. The school had planned to name its theater after the comedian, and as students expressed concern about the decision in light of his jokes, Chappelle responded by calling them “immature.”
Last June, Chappell returned to the high school to address the students again as the theater was officially named the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression. “Instead of giving my name to this theater, I’d like to give these students my message,” Chappelle said in a speech that now serves as his latest release on Netflix. What’s in a name?
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