Several venues have cancelled bookings by Canadian comedian Ben Bankas ahead of an anticipated cross-Canada tour after he posted a skit of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on social media.
The controversial comedy skit mocking the mayor led to a coordinated social media mob intent on demanding venues who were willing to host Bankas to drop him from their line up.
Bankas also ran for mayor in the latest mayoral election and used his candidacy to ridicule woke and progressive policies.
In an interview with True North, Bankas explained that Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario and Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia have cancelled scheduled performances.
“People from TikTok went on my website to find the list of venues to cancel and sent them all emails,” explained Bankas.
In one email, Aeolian Hall’s managers explained that “some backlash” led to their decision to cancel Bankas’ show on Oct. 5.
“We’ve received some backlash, and it’s been pointed out that some of your humour is past the line in relation to our values as a venue and arts organization. This decision wasn’t made lightly,” Aeolian Hall told Bankas.
True North reached out to Aeolian Hall to ask what particular aspects of Bankas’ comedy they took issue with but did not receive a response.
According to Bankas, he confronted Aeolian Hall’s managers about the cancellation and they allegedly told him that they had only received one email complaint prior to cancelling the booking.
“I asked: How much backlash? What are you talking about when you say backlash? And so he said, they had one email. They had one email come in with a link to the TikTok of Olivia Chow and they just said we can’t do it,” said Bankas.
“I told them that this is anti-free speech, like blatantly saying you don’t like this speech and can’t allow it here.”
Since the video caught the attention of the woke mob, Bankas has received several threatening and antisemitic messages.
Screenshots shared with True North include one user commenting: “If only I could rewind time to make sure your grandparents were in the (gas) chambers and not someone else’s.”
“Wish u were born during ww2 tbh,” commented another user.
Others called Bankas “racist” or threatened violence.
“This guy needs to be taken out to the back shed,” wrote one user on TikTok.
On Wednesday, Bankas was informed by Alderney Landing’s management that they too would cancel a show scheduled for Sept. 16.
“Due to an influx of negative feedback from the members of our community – we regret to inform you that we have to cancel your booking,” wrote the venue.
“As a community cultural centre, we have a responsibility to be cognizant of public feedback. Due to the amount of negative feedback we have received in the past day, we have no choice but to cancel your booking.”
In a response sent to Alderney Landing, Bankas accused the venue of censoring comedy.
“This is completely unacceptable. I was told you were not here to censor comedy. I have online haters emailing you from not even Canada begging you to cancel my show and take money out of my pocket and my child’s dinner plate and without contacting me you immediately bend the knee,” wrote Bankas.
“This is a blatant attack on free speech by Alderney Landing.”
As True North reported exclusively, comedian Sophie Buddle also recently had an event cancelled in May by the Vancouver venue Little Mountain Gallery over a joke referencing residential schools from last year.
