John Mulaney issues message to Ontario after abrupt show postponement
Comedy giant John Mulaney has shared a message with Ontario fans following the abrupt postponement of the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Mississauga, where the comedian was due to perform this Friday.
On Tuesday afternoon, organizers announced the postponement of the entire festival stop planned for Mississauga's Erindale Park from Sept. 11 through 13, which was to feature a roster of top-billing comedians including Stavros Halkias, Ronny Chieng, and Hasan Minhaj.
Mulaney, who has a history of cancelled and rescheduled performances in Toronto in recent years, took to social media hours after the announcement to reassure Ontario fans that the decision to postpone the festival was not his, and that he plans to entertain crowds in the province soon.
Addressing his note "To everyone in Ontario," Mulaney explained that, "Although it was not my decision, The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival shows this weekend in Ontario will not be proceeding as scheduled."
"The festival producers have unfortunately made the decision to not move forward with any of the 3 nights and 4 different headliners this weekend. I intend to perform in the region soon."
While no details of the postponement have been made public, Mulaney stated that there is "more to come."
Mulaney's point of stressing that the decision was not his is unsurprising given the comedian's history in the region. Mulaney wore a "Toronto" shirt on Saturday Night Live in 2020 to apologize for three consecutive cancelled shows, only to snub local fans again the following year with another scheduling change.
While no reason was given for these changes, it was eventually revealed that the comedian had checked into a treatment facility in December 2020 for a two-month stint battling addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and prescription drugs.
Fans were still understandably skeptical when the comedian booked new dates in Toronto, though Mulaney did indeed appear at his Sept. 22, 2022 show at Scotiabank Arena for Just For Laughs Toronto, returning for a multi-show run at Massey Hall on Sept. 2-5, 2025, on his Mister Whatever tour.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
