Gig axed amid ongoing row over transphobia

Dave Chappelle’s tour was last night booted out of the venue where he was due to perform amid a backlash over his material about trans people.

The comic’s stand-up show at First Avenue in Minnesota was pulled just hours before curtain up – although it quickly found a new home at the nearby Varsity Theater.

It comes months after the release of his controversial Nextflix special The Closer attracted widespread complaints that it was transphobic and homophobic.

In a statement released on social media, First Avenue said: ‘To staff, artists, and our community, we hear you and we are sorry. We know we must hold ourselves to the highest standards, and we know we let you down.

‘We are not just a black box with people in it, and we understand that First Ave is not just a room, but meaningful beyond our walls. The First Avenue team and you have worked hard to make our venues the safest spaces in the country, and we will continue with that mission.

‘We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, but in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact this would have. We know there are some who will not agree with this decision; you are welcome to send feedback.’

The show at First Avenue – made famous by its prominence in Prince’s Purple Rain film  – was only announced on Monday, yet quickly sold out its £105-a-head tickets.

Inevitably the venue’s decision sparked a deluge of comments about a comedian’s right to free speech.

‘It's fucking COMEDY! If you get offended over jokes, than comedy probably isn't for you. Freedom of speech and the right to express yourself is kind of a big deal in this country. He's not hurting anybody. Funny how the people bitching about his JOKES are the same people who claim to stand for the freedom to express yourself however they want to. It's just so hypocritical and ridiculous,’ said one fan.

Another added: ’It’s sad to see this sort of thing coming from the house that Prince built. It’s hard to believe he would have ever condoned this sort of artistic censorship and/or purposeful limiting of creative freedom and expression.’

However others said ‘thank you for standing up for the vulnerable’ and that First Avenue is either ‘a safe place for trans people or it's not’.

Chappelle has remained unrepentant over The Closer. In a speech released on Netflix last month Chappelle called the special a ‘masterpiece’. And he added: ‘The more you say I can’t say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it. It has nothing to do with what you’re saying I can’t say. It has everything to do with my right, my freedom, of artistic expression.’

The exterior of First Avenue is covered in more than 400 stars carrying the names of people who have played there – including Chappelle’s.

Published: 21 Jul 2022