Comedian cancelled by Massey Hall sells out two Toronto shows at a bigger venue
Massey Hall has yet to open its doors back up to the public after three years under construction, but there's already controversy surrounding cancelling a comedian's show at the venue.
Andrew Schulz, an American comedian, is going on tour across North America next year and originally was supposed to perform at Massey Hall in Toronto.
But Massey Hall backed out, according to Schultz, forcing the comedian and his team to scramble to find a new venue.
In a video Schulz tweeted out earlier this week he explained the situation.
"Massey Hall hit me up a few weeks ago and they said 'Hey we have to cancel your shows! ..we looked you up and you tell inappropriate jokes! We no longer want inappropriate jokes on our stage so we have to cancel your shows," says Shulz in the video.
Here’s a story about venues that are afraid of jokes… pic.twitter.com/Z1j06irYxA
— Andrew Schulz 👑HEZI (@andrewschulz) November 17, 2021
Schulz tells blogTO that his team received the notice from Massey Hall only a week before tickets went on sale. Meridian Hall was available but Schulz and his team had some hesitation since it's a much bigger venue.
But then tickets for his first show at Meridian Hall sold out in seven minutes and the second show sold out within an hour. A third night is now planned as well.
"I don’t want to do venues that censor comedy," Schulz wrote in a tweet announcing tickets for his third night in Toronto.
Toronto there’s a bunch of 🙀’s on the board of Massey Hall that thought my “Netflix special was too controversial”.
— Andrew Schulz 👑HEZI (@andrewschulz) November 18, 2021
I don’t want to do venues that censor comedy. So we’re doing a bigger theater, Meridian Hall and we just added a 3rd show.
Tix @ https://t.co/ESE9SDKM8N pic.twitter.com/NgaX7haiHg
Fans have reacted to the controversy and are clearly showing up to support the comedian.
Ridiculous. The whole part of comedy is to push the limits to get folks to laugh. We’re lost if we can’t find humor in dark times. #CancelCulture has run its course.
— Claudia Mishell (@ClaudiaMishell5) November 18, 2021
Some fans even bashed Massey Hall for backing out of the shows.
not a good look @masseyhall. Will you be cutting all raw entertainment? Or just Christian rock shows going forward?
— Nick (@nickkernick) November 18, 2021
Massey Hall has not responded to blogTO's request for comment.
Netflix
