Controversial Scottish comedian Jerry Sadowitz's Edinburgh Fringe show has been cancelled after just one night.
The 60-year-old is said to have used racist language in his set on Friday night with organisers deciding to pull the plug with 'immediate effect'.
His show called Jerry Sadowitz: Not For Anyone – which carried the warning “strong language and themes some may find distressing” - was banned after just one night by venue the Pleasance.
The comic tweeted: “Did a show last night, 75 mins, thought it went well. Didn’t see any walkouts. Today I’m told my show’s been cancelled. Great stuff. I’m truly sorry for everyone who travelled to see my show tonight.”
The Mirror has reached out to Sadowitz for further comment.
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Explaining the decision to cancel the comic's latest show with 'immediate effect', the Pleasance’s director Anthony Alderson said: “The Pleasance is a venue that champions freedom of speech and we do not censor comedians’ material.
“While we acknowledge that Jerry Sadowitz has often been controversial, the material presented at his first show is not acceptable and does not align with our values.
“This type of material has no place on the festival and The Pleasance will not be presenting his second and final show.”
The move didn't go down well amongst other comedians, with performer Leo Kearse saying: "If the Islamic fundamentalists don't get you, the wokeists will."
Other fans called the “censorship” "wrong and hugely authoritarian”.
One tweeted: “Outrageous and depressing decision. Maybe they’ll bother their arses to offer an explanation at some point. People that travelled to Edinburgh to see you must be livid. It’s hardly cheap to visit this city in August.”
“Pathetic censorship from The Fringe – if you don’t want to be offended, don’t go see Jerry Sadowitz. He can make you feel uncomfortable with some of his comments, but it’s comedy, not a documentary or lecture,” said another.
A third chimed in: “Who do these people think they are? This is wrong and hugely authoritarian.”
A fourth said: “Jerry Sadowitz pretty much invented a new genre of comedy which has been ripped off wholesale by other performers over the years. To refuse to let him play is insane, especially when those that lifted his act are getting top billing. And who doesn’t know what to expect FFS.”
“So The Pleasance at the Edinburgh Fringe just cancelled Jerry Sadowitz’s show. The fringe is over. That’s it. Done. No point,” a fifth added.
Sadowitz rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s and quickly captured audiences with his frequently controversial brand of black comedy, which is often deliberately offensive.
He also uses magic in his shows and is widely acclaimed as one of the best magicians in the world for his close-up tricks. He even helped Derren Brown get his big break.
But his humour is not for everyone, as in 1991 Sadowitz was famously knocked unconscious by an audience member during a performance in Montreal in which he mocked French Canadians.
Comedian and writer Viv Groskop said if Sadowitz’s antics were the standard for shows getting cancelled, then “loads of other shows should get cancelled too".
She added: “If it’s about content... then let grown adults Google acts before they buy tickets. It’s not difficult.”
The Pleasance said anyone who had booked a ticket for Saturday's gig would receive a refund and that they "won't be working" with the entertainer again.
Sadowitz went on to Twitter to promote his run of 14 gigs at venues south of the Border later in the year.
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