Tim cancels American festival appearance

Tim Minchin has been forced to cancel his US appearance this weekend, amid fears he has been another victim of the American government shutdown.

The Australian comic had been due to appear at Tenacious D’s star-studded Festival Supreme on Saturday night alongside the likes of Tim & Eric, Sarah Silverman and Adam Sandler.

However, the visa he needs to perform has not arrived in time, so he has been forced to pull out.

The news follows the cancellation of the Mighty Boosh’s show in Los Angeles last night, also blamed on the government shutdown, imposed as Republicans hijacked a budget bill to protest about President Obama’s heathcare reforms.

Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt are now in the US, and are performing at a benefit at the Hollywood Comedy Store tonight. Their appearance at Festival Supreme, which takes place on Santa Monica pier, is set to go ahead as planned.

Minchin broke the ‘disappointing / uncool / annoying’ news that he won’t be joining them in a post on his website.

He wrote: ‘Due to a highly unlikely and incredibly frustrating sequence of shitty events, the visa I require to play in the US this weekend has not arrived...

‘I feel sick about letting down the people for whom seeing my set was a big reason for buying tickets. I know some of you are travelling a long way, I know some of you had to save up to afford the ticket price, I know you’re going to be pissed off at me. It’s a right pain in the arse.

‘Please believe me when I say we have done everything we can to solve this. My manager has actually been on the phone to senators trying to find a way to get around this problem. But the fact is, every now and then, it’s just going to happen.’

He said ‘rather maddening bureaucratic glitches’ affected his visa application and added: ‘Perhaps the government shut-down slowed things up (I don’t actually know)… and here we are. Majorly bummed out. I’m sorry.’

Published: 18 Oct 2013