First Avenue canceled a show featuring Dave Chappelle at the last minute on Wednesday after a petition collected 125 signatures declaring that Chappelle has a record of being “dangerous to trans people.”
“First Avenue has a duty to protect the community,” the petition said.
In response, First Avenue apologized to staff, artists and its community in announcing the show was canceled.
The petition stated that Chappelle’s actions “uphold a violent heteronormative culture and directly violate First Avenue’s code of conduct.”
“If staff and guests are held to this standard, performers should be too,” it said.
Chappelle made jokes about transgender people in a Netflix special he did called “The Closer.”
Chappelle’s show was moved to Varsity Theater and all First Avenue tickets were honored. Chappelle was already scheduled to perform at Varsity Theater on Thursday and Friday.
As for First Avenue, their statement said they “worked hard to make our venus the safest spaces in the country, and we will continue with that mission.”
“We believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression, but in honoring that, we lost sight of the impact this would have.”