Theatre Eastwood Park in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, has canceled an upcoming performance by American comedian Reginald D. Hunter following a controversial incident during his Edinburgh Fringe show. The cancellation comes after two Israeli audience members were reportedly heckled and subsequently booed out of Hunter’s performance at Assembly George Square Studios.
The incident was triggered by a joke in which Hunter compared Israel to an abusive partner, leading to the two attendees protesting that it “was not funny.” The comedian then responded by telling them to leave, which escalated the situation.
Hunter described the event as an “unfortunate incident” but stood by his comedic approach, which often pushes boundaries to provoke thought and laughter. His performance style, known for touching on controversial topics, has drawn mixed reactions over the years.
In this instance, the Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed concern over the incident, emphasizing that comedians have a responsibility to their audiences. Despite the backlash, a Police Scotland investigation into the matter concluded that no crime had been committed, framing it more as a contentious exchange rather than a legal offense.
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, the body overseeing Eastwood Park Theatre, stated that while they defend artists’ freedom of expression, they also prioritize their commitment to community values of diversity and inclusion.
As a result, they decided to cancel Hunter’s show scheduled for September 28. A spokesperson reiterated that while controversial acts are expected in alternative comedy, the incident conflicted with the theatre’s core principles. The theatre confirmed that all customers who had purchased tickets would receive refunds, underscoring the seriousness with which they regarded the situation.
Reginald D. Hunter, an established comedian originally from Georgia, USA, is no stranger to the UK comedy scene, frequently touring and appearing on popular TV shows like “Have I Got News For You” and “8 Out of 10 Cats.”
In response to the cancellation, Hunter issued a statement acknowledging that his comedy pushes boundaries and creates divided opinions, but emphasized his anti-war and anti-bullying stance. He expressed regret over any stress caused to audience members and venue staff but remained firm in his commitment to using comedy as a tool for challenging social norms.
The comedian said:
“There was an unfortunate incident in my new show Fluffy Fluffy Beavers.
“As a comedian, I do push boundaries in creating humour, it’s part of my job. This inevitably creates divided opinions but I am staunchly anti-war and anti-bully.
“I regret any stress caused to the audience and venue staff members.”
