A Minneapolis bar and comedy club has canceled six sold-out shows featuring Canadian comedian Ben Bankas after he went viral for making derogatory jokes about Renee Good, a woman who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on January 7 in the city.
The decision to cancel Bankas' performances comes as a safety risk for both the performer and audience members, according to Bill Collins, owner of Camp Bar and Laugh Camp comedy club. Shortly after Bankas posted the jokes, Collins began receiving threats of boycotts and protests outside the venue. Collins expressed his surprise at the backlash, stating that he had never encountered anything similar before.
Bankas' management company, CAA, has reportedly demanded payment in full for the canceled shows, citing a contract as the reason. However, Collins believes there may be a force majeure situation, and his team is exploring alternative options to avoid further conflict.
The decision to cancel Bankas' performances comes after he made disparaging comments about Renee Good during a recent show, which have sparked widespread outrage. Critics argue that such humor can be hurtful and unnecessary, while others may find it shocking and provocative.
Last year, several venues in Canada canceled performances from Bankas after he made similar jokes about Indigenous people. Collins has expressed concern that Bankas' management team is not taking adequate steps to mitigate the risks associated with his upcoming shows.
The cancellation of Bankas' performances serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding free speech and humor in the face of tragedy and social unrest. While some may see such comedy as a form of catharsis, others view it as insensitive and hurtful.
The decision to cancel Bankas' performances comes as a safety risk for both the performer and audience members, according to Bill Collins, owner of Camp Bar and Laugh Camp comedy club. Shortly after Bankas posted the jokes, Collins began receiving threats of boycotts and protests outside the venue. Collins expressed his surprise at the backlash, stating that he had never encountered anything similar before.
Bankas' management company, CAA, has reportedly demanded payment in full for the canceled shows, citing a contract as the reason. However, Collins believes there may be a force majeure situation, and his team is exploring alternative options to avoid further conflict.
The decision to cancel Bankas' performances comes after he made disparaging comments about Renee Good during a recent show, which have sparked widespread outrage. Critics argue that such humor can be hurtful and unnecessary, while others may find it shocking and provocative.
Last year, several venues in Canada canceled performances from Bankas after he made similar jokes about Indigenous people. Collins has expressed concern that Bankas' management team is not taking adequate steps to mitigate the risks associated with his upcoming shows.
The cancellation of Bankas' performances serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding free speech and humor in the face of tragedy and social unrest. While some may see such comedy as a form of catharsis, others view it as insensitive and hurtful.
think he's funny but really just gets attention w/ his hate speech 
like wut even is the point of making jokes about someone who got killed byICE?? 
safety first, bb! camp bar and laugh camp comedy club made the right call 
. all them threats and boycotts outside the venue were probs not worth the drama 
dont get me wrong, i love good comedy but this is just straight up hurtful 
. bankas' management team needs to step up their game (or get new reps lol)
I'm all for Ben Bankas exercising his right to free speech, but not at the expense of Renee Good's family & loved ones. Can't imagine how painful those jokes must've been for them...
I don't think comedy is about being provocative or shocking for its own sake. If you're gonna make a joke, consider if it might hurt someone's feelings before sharing it out loud 
. But on the other hand, there are people like Renee Good who were brutally murdered and now her family is left to deal with the emotional trauma of hearing someone joke about their loss 
. It just feels so insensitive 
.
[Doge meme](https://i.imgur.com/OdHbKdn.jpg)
"I can has nuance?" 
Don't come for the Benjamins, Ben 
CAA is just trying to collect 
. And now Camp Bar and Laugh Camp comedy club is having to cancel his shows because of all the threats and protests? That's a real shame, especially since they had already sold out those shows 
.