CELEBRITIES are criticising the decision by a Scottish theatre to cancel the comedian Jerry Sadowitz’s remaining shows at the Edinburgh Fringe after he reportedly “got his penis out” on stage.
The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh cancelled Sadowitz’s second show scheduled for Saturday night, stating that “Opinions such as those displayed on stage by Sadowitz are not acceptable and The Pleasance are not prepared to be associated with such material.”
As well as getting his penis out to a woman in the front row, Sadowitz also called Conservative MP Rishi Sunak a “p***” and said the economy was awful because it is run by “blacks and women”.
But constitutional lawyer and former Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins tweeted his surprise at the decision by The Pleasance.
He said: “The day after the attack Rushdie,*this* is the action of leading venue at the Edin Fringe?!?
“To cancel an event because some people may find offensive?!? It’s beyond shameful.”
The tweet was liked by Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
The day after the attack Rushdie, *this* is the action of leading venue at the Edin Fringe?!? To cancel an event because some people may find offensive?!? It’s beyond shameful. https://t.co/1AGJebE8vv
— Adam Tomkins (@ProfTomkins) August 13, 2022
Other celebrities have also jumped to the defence of the controversial comedian.
Presenter Jeremy Vine said: “'I've seen Jerry Sadowitz perform four times. Each gig was more offensive than the last.
'No one complained because that's what Jerry does.”
Piers Morgan said that the cancellation was an issue of free speech.
He tweeted: “Imagine getting a comedian cancelled on the day Salman Rushdie was stabbed? Pathetic. Free speech is being destroyed.”
Imagine getting a comedian cancelled on the day Salman Rushdie was stabbed? Pathetic. Free speech is being destroyed. https://t.co/aAO5TDU0jj
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 13, 2022
However, The Pleasance has defended the decision in an updated statement.
They said that a large number of people walked out of the show on Friday night because they felt uncomfortable and unsafe.
A spokesperson for the venue added: “We have received an unprecedented number of complaints that could not be ignored and we had a duty to respond.
“The subsequent abuse directed to our teams is also equally unacceptable.”
