The comedian Dave Chappelle’ stand-up show in Minneapolis, Minnesota was postponed on Wednesday only hours before it was scheduled to start.
First Avenue, the renowned location that served as the backdrop for Prince’s “Purple Rain,” revealed that the performance will take place at Varsity Theater instead. The venue responded to the criticism it had seen on social media for hiring Chappelle, who has had his share of controversy this year after his Netflix special “The Closer” was condemned for transphobic jokes, in an Instagram post.
“We hear you, staff, artists, and members of our community, and we apologize. We are aware that we must hold ourselves to the highest standards and that you were disappointed. We recognize that First Avenue is more than simply a room and that it has significance outside of our walls. We are not just a black box with people in it. “You and the First Avenue team have worked hard to make our locations the safest places in the nation, and we will keep up that effort. We respect the right to free speech and artistic expression, but in doing so, we neglected to consider the consequences.
Social media for First Avenue was flooded with criticism for Dave Chappelle of the comic
Even though TMZ reported that tickets rapidly sold out, First Avenue’s social media was flooded with criticism of the comic after Chappelle’s event was announced earlier this week. When your guild regulations (sic) expressly indicate that homophobic or transphobic language will not be accepted, it is disgusting that you are allowing Dave [Chappelle] to play at your venue, one commenter writes.
In addition to two more performances on July 21 and 22, the play on Wednesday is now being held at Dinkytown’s Varsity Theater.
In a recent address made at his alma mater that was recently published by Netflix, Chappelle reiterated the defense of his gags by praising artistic expression. Chappelle said in his address, “What’s in a Name?,” that he had chosen to call the school’s theatre the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression rather than have it named after him. Chappelle clarified that he made the choice after discussing it with kids at the school after they protested his comments in “The Closer.”