The controversial show by comedian Jerry Sadowitz, cancelled at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, is coming to Stirling in October.
Members of the audience had walked out on the first night of a two-night run of ‘Not for Anyone’ at the Pleasance complaining about comments made about black people, Muslims and lesbians.
As a result the venue cancelled the second night of the show sparking a huge debate over freedom of speech.
While the comedian was lambasted in some quarters, he also received strong support in others.
Stirling Council Conservative leader Neil Benny in a Tweet said: “What is happening to our country?
“Cancel culture writ large and an assault on freedom of speech.
“The Pleasance trust should be ashamed of itself.”
The Pleasance in a statement had said: “Due to numerous complaints, we became immediately aware of content that was considered, among other things, extreme in its racism, sexism, homophobia and misogyny.
“We will not associate with content which attacks people’s dignity, and the language used on stage was, in our view, completely unacceptable.
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“A large number of people walked out of Jerry Sadowitz’s show as they felt uncomfortable and unsafe to remain in the venue.
“We have received an unprecedented number of complaints that could not be ignored and we had a duty to respond.”
Responding in a Tweet, Jerry Sadowitz stated that he puts a lot of thought into his shows and that his act was being “cheapened and simplified as unsafe, homophobic, mysoginistic and racist”.
A blurb on the Stirling Alive with Culture website, publicising the Saturday October 8 show at the Albert Halls, states: “Notorious for his frequently controversial brand of black comedy Sadowitz has said that audiences going to see a comedian should suspend their beliefs.
“He has influenced a generation of comedians, but states that ‘politically incorrect comedy is no genre: it’s me, and it’s been ripped off by loads and loads of comics’.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson told the Observer this week: “The show is going ahead as advertised.”
