Dave Chappelle Stand-Up Show Canceled By Minneapolis Venue After Social Media Backlash

Comedian Dave Chappelle’s stand-up show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was postponed Wednesday just hours before it was to start.

First Avenue, the renowned venue that served as the backdrop for Prince’s “Purple Rain,” revealed that the performance will take place at the Varsity Theatre. The venue responded to 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.

Attention Dave Chappelle fans! The show scheduled for tonight on First Ave has now been moved to the Varsity Theatre. Your First Ave tickets will be honored. Doors open at 8 pm and we recommend arriving early.

This event will be a phone-free experience. pic.twitter.com/khrphPmqZo

— Varsity Theater (@VarsityTheater) July 20, 2022

“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 just a room and that it has meaning outside our walls. We are not just a black box with people inside. “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 freedom of speech and artistic expression, but in doing so we forget to consider the consequences.

First Avenue’s social media was flooded with criticism for Dave Chappelle from the comic

Although TMZ reported that tickets sold out quickly, First Avenue’s social media was flooded with criticism of the comic after Chappelle’s event was announced earlier this week. When the rules of his (sic) union expressly state that homophobic or transphobic language will not be accepted, it is disgusting that they allow Dave [Chappelle] to play at your venue, write a commenter.

Whenever these institutions respond with something like “we hear you loud and clear!” What they heard was like 10 crazies on social media, as opposed to fans who would have filled the venue with sold out tickets as Chappelle sells out every damn concert he gives.

— Mike (Chuck Fletcher’s #1 fan) (@Boston__Sucks) July 21, 2022

In addition to two more performances on July 21 and 22, Wednesday’s play now runs at the Dinkytown Varsity Theater.

So was the theater worried about people intentionally buying tickets, intentionally attending the show, and getting offended? LOL

—Marky Mark (@MarkyUSA) July 21, 2022

In a recent speech delivered at his alma mater and recently released by Netflix, Chappelle reiterated his defense of his gags by praising artistic expression. Chappelle said in his speech, “What’s in a Name?”, that he had chosen to call the school’s theater Theater for Freedom and Artistic Expression rather than have it named after him. Chappelle clarified that he made the decision after discussing it with children at school after they protested his comments on “The Closer.”