Interview with Scott Radley on Cancelling Jeff Dunham (Good Morning Hamilton)

 Interview with Scott Radley, filling in for Rick Zamperin, on Good Morning Hamilton (AM900 CHML), on cancelling Jeff Dunham in St. Catharines: https://youtu.be/Nd98NaPZXIs

Jeff Dunham (105-1 The River)

https://www.105theriver.ca/news/local-news/jeff-dunham/ 

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 6:31am

By Karen Moncur

City council won’t ask the Meridian Centre to give American comedian Jeff Dunham the hook after an hour-long discussion last night about his controversial upcoming performance in St. Catharines.

The city’s anti-racism advisory committee argued the ventriloquist uses puppet characters based on racist stereotypes and asked council to request ASM Global, which manages the centre for the city, to consider cancelling the show.

Councillors voted 10-2 against that motion. But they did unanimously support the creation of guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups or advisory committees or both.

The Jeff Dunham: Seriously, North American tour is scheduled to make a stop at the Meridian Centre on Nov. 20th. The show is almost sold out.

ST. CATHARINES COUNCIL WILL NOT ASK FOR JEFF DUNHAM TO BE CANCELLED (CKTB Newstalk 610)

https://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/news/1.18439530

ST. CATHARINES COUNCIL WILL NOT ASK FOR JEFF DUNHAM TO BE CANCELLED

9:21 AM

CKTB file photo | Shelby Knox

St. Catharines city council will not be asking for a performance by Jeff Dunham to be cancelled but they plan on building a policy for futures performances.

The issue was brought forward by the city's anti-racism committee who say the comedians performances are racist.

Mayor Walter Sendzik says, "We are not thought police, we can't as a council start cancelling different pieces of art because we feel that it is an infringement, there has to be something more foundational and I think that is the hardest part of the discussion - he has never been charged with a hate crime and he has performed around the world and around the country and no one has come out and said I am going to charge you with hate speech." 

Dunham uses a number of puppets in his act that are based on various racial stereotypes.

Sendzik adds that Council will move forward with creating a set of principles to guide future performances at city owned facilities, "We have to make sure the guiding principles that are created are not about censorship."

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MAYOR SENDZIK SPEAKING WITH TIM DENIS

Jeff Dunham is set to perform at the Meridian Centre on November 20th.

St. Catharines won't ask arena to cancel Jeff Dunham comedy show despite racism concerns (CBC Hamilton)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/jeff-dunham-st-catharines-city-council-1.6566385

St. Catharines won't ask arena to cancel Jeff Dunham comedy show despite racism concerns

Coun. Greg Miller said decision will create 'an atmosphere of distrust' within anti-racism committee

Bobby Hristova · CBC News · Posted: Aug 30, 2022 8:42 AM ET | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

St. Catharines's city council won't ask the managers of the Meridian Centre to cancel Jeff Dunham's comedy show in November despite concerns from the city's anti-racism advisory committee.

After an in-camera period, Coun. Greg Miller and Coun. Karrie Porter came out as the only two on council to support asking ASM Global to consider cancelling the show at the city-owned venue.

However, all councillors did support a motion that asks city staff to create guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups and or advisory committees.

Jeff Dunham is an American comedian best known for his ventriloquism. He gained global popularity in the 2000s but has also faced criticism in the past for portraying characters that rely on racial stereotypes.

There's a long history of not wanting to upset people who either are racist or think racism is funny.​​​​​- Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee

Some of the characters on his current tour include a dead terrorist named Achmed and a "totally legal" jalapeño on a stick named José.

Dunham's new tour is set to make a stop at the Meridian Centre on Nov. 20 and is also scheduled to visit other Ontario cities including Oshawa, London, Peterborough and Kitchener.

Dunham's team didn't respond to requests for comment.

• St. Catharines anti-racism committee wants Jeff Dunham comedy show cancelled

The St. Catharines's anti-racism committee raised concerns about Dunham's use of racial stereotypes, saying his act harms marginalized communities and could make people think racism, misogyny and homophobia are acceptable.

Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee, spoke to councillors during their Monday evening meeting, saying jokes about marginalized communities could embolden some people to escalate hate.

He also said the event was taking place on city property and the local Rzone policy — that states the municipality has zero tolerance for things like racism at city-owned recreational facilities — should apply.

"When there's a hate crime, we can't say we're a compassionate city, racism won't be tolerated here, but when a brazenly, openly, racist, misogynist, homophobic act comes to town, we then say 'Oh well, we have no choice but to lie down and do nothing,'" he told council.

Kay Meilleur, the Meridian Centre's marketing director, previously told CBC in an email the views expressed by acts aren't necessarily shared by the venue or staff, and said they present acts for a diverse community.

"ASM Global and the Meridian Centre remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all fans and employees who choose to attend an event, while supporting those groups who choose not to attend due to content that might be viewed by some as offensive," Meilleur wrote in an email.

Meilleur didn't immediately answer additional questions from CBC.

Mayor and other councillors push back

Mayor Walter Sendzik said it could lead to a slippery slope.

"Would the next step be going into our [public] libraries and removing books that would have characters of fiction that could be seen as offensive to a group?" he asked, to which Waziruddin said a comedic performance is different from a book.

"We can't make a decision in a vacuum," Sendzik said.

Coun. Bill Phillips said cancelling the "virtually sold out" show could upset a lot of people who bought tickets and could cast a "negative light" on the good work the anti-racism committee has done so far.

"The damage caused by the racist performance is greater," Waziruddin said. "There's a long history of not wanting to upset people who either are racist or think racism is funny."

Saleh Waziruddin is the chair of St. Catharines' anti-racism advisory committee. (Submitted by Saleh Waziruddin)

Recreation director Phil Cristi said the Rzone policy is intended to address issues programs at facilities, like sports activities, but doesn't name performances and, in his opinion, doesn't apply to them.

Coun. Miller said the rules seemed hypocritical if they were meant to kick out fans who were being racist, homophobic or misogynist but not meant to stop an event with racist, homophobic or misogynist material.

"I think it creates an atmosphere of distrust when we ask for this committee to give us their experience and we don't take those experiences seriously. What they're asking for us to do is pretty basic here," Miller said.

Coun. Porter said she was "literally shocked" to see Dunham would be coming to the city and allowing him to perform is "poor decision making."

"I worry about people who work at the Meridian Centre who, for example, are Muslim and they're going to have to sit through an Achmed the terrorist show and where's the thought behind that? I'm struggling with it," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Hristova

Reporter

Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Hamilton. He reports on all issues, but has a knack for stories that hold people accountable, stories that focus on social issues and investigative journalism. He previously worked for the National Post and CityNews in Toronto. You can contact him at bobby.hristova@cbc.ca.

• Follow @bobbyhristova on Twitter

St. Catharines not asking Meridian Centre to cancel Jeff Dunham show (St. Catharines Standard)

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2022/08/30/st-catharines-council-wont-voice-objection-to-ventriloquists-show.html

St. Catharines not asking Meridian Centre to cancel Jeff Dunham show

City council will create policy for future acts

By Karena WalterStandard Reporter

Tue., Aug. 30, 2022timer4 min. read

City council won’t ask Meridian Centre to give American comedian Jeff Dunham the hook after an hourlong discussion Monday night about his controversial upcoming performance in St. Catharines.

The city’s anti-racism advisory committee argued the ventriloquist uses puppet characters based on racist stereotypes and asked council to request ASM Global, which manages the centre for the city, consider cancelling the show.

Councillors voted 10-2 against that motion. But they did unanimously support the creation of guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups or advisory committees or both.

“In that decision we must always remember as council we’re not the ‘Thought Police.’ We are not the ones that ban books,” said Mayor Walter Sendzik.

“It’s not our decision, even though it’s our facilities. But if we can have a policy, those who are making the choices for selection, they’ll be able to look at it and say, ‘Here’s what’s best for our community moving forward.’”

The Jeff Dunham: Seriously North American tour is scheduled to make a stop at Meridian Centre on Nov. 20. The 110-square-metre venue is almost sold out.

The anti-racism committee passed a resolution calling for the cancellation of the performance because of characters used in the act that include a bearded skeleton called Achmed the Dead Terrorist and a Latino puppet named José Jalepeño.

Committee chair Saleh Waziruddin told council there’s been a brazenness of hate crimes such as the vandalism at Harriet Tubman School and other acts in which people have no hint of shame or fear of getting caught, including the recent harassment of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland captured on video.

“They get this daring from the normalization of hate, from making a mockery and the butt of jokes of racialized people, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people,” Waziruddin said.

He said council didn’t need to take his word for it — Statistics Canada reported police have seen a 72 per cent increase in hate crimes in just two years.

Waziruddin argued St. Catharines should pursue cancellation of the event and start reversing what’s been called an escalating wildfire of hate in the country.

Grantham Coun. Bill Philips said the show was almost sold out and council had received emails from people supporting the event. He asked Waziruddin if he was worried about backlash against the committee.

“If this gets cancelled, there’s going to be 4,000 or 5,000 people, however many seats have been sold, who are going to be very upset because the anti-racism committee has brought this forward and it’s going to have some negative effect on the good work that you’ve done so far. Is that not a concern at all?”

Waziruddin said there’s a long history of not wanting to upset people who either are racist or who think racism is funny.

“I think the damage that’s caused by this kind of performance is much greater. And that’s what we should be focusing on and not on the people who bought the tickets.”

St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner said the discussion reminded him of one several years ago when a group wanted books banned in the library. He said council decided their policy was they shouldn’t get involved, even though the books were insensitive, and it was up to the library board. He said that was the right decision.

Council spent half an hour behind closed doors with the city solicitor for legal advice before voting separately on whether to ask ASM to cancel the Dunham event and ask city staff to create the guiding principles for facilities.

Merritton Coun. Greg Miller, who brought the anti-racism committee’s motion forward asking for the cancellation request, said council has “scoffed” at the committee’s recommendations a number of times in the past.

“I think it creates an atmosphere of distrust when we ask for this committee to give us their experience and we don’t take those experiences seriously,” he said.

“What they’re asking for us to do is pretty basic here, to ask the Meridian Centre to consider cancelling a show that racialized people in our community consider harmful and hateful.”

St. Patrick’s Coun. Karrie Porter, the other councillor to vote in favour, said she worries about any employee at Meridian Centre who’s Muslim and has to sit through an Achmed the Dead Terrorist performance.

Porter said she understood because of contractual obligations that council couldn’t tell ASM what to do or force it to cancel, but said it was a great opportunity to ask it how it can improve its bookings and align with the city’s anti-racism committee.

“It is a municipal facility, it is taxpayer funded to some extent and I feel this is an important opportunity for ASM Global to take a look at our equity, diversity policies and where we’re going as a community and do a better job booking better acts.”

Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering city hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com

Council allows ventriloquist act some deem offensive at St. Catharines venue (InSauga)

https://www.insauga.com/council-allows-ventriloquist-act-deemed-to-be-offensive-at-st-catharines-venue/ 

By Don Redmond

Published August 30, 2022 at 1:29 pm

The St. Catharines anti-racism advisory committee ask council to consider stopping ventriloquist Jeff Dunham's show in November, saying the comedian relies too heavily on racist tropes.

Asked by the city’s anti-racism advisory committee to block a ventriloquist act deemed by many to be offensive, St. Catharines Council decided last night to let the show go on – this time.

But they are now committed on creating a policy for futures performances.

Renowned puppeteer Jeff Dunham is bringing his comedy act to the Meridian Centre on November 20 and it’s a performance that the anti-racism advisory committee would rather see skip town.

Dunham gained global popularity in the 2000s but more recently has faced criticism in the past for portraying characters that rely on racial stereotypes, including a dead terrorist named Achmed and a talking jalapeño on a stick named José, complete with sombrero.

Merritton Councillor Greg Miller, who also serves on the city’s anti-racism advisory committee, brought a motion to cancel the show to the table but in the end, he only got support from St. Patricks councillor Karrie Porter.

In the end, council decided as a group, they couldn’t start blocking performances that have run without issue in the past.

Mayor Walter Sendzik said, “We are not thought police, we can’t as a council start cancelling different pieces of art because we feel that it is an infringement, there has to be something more foundational and I think that is the hardest part of the discussion – he has never been charged with a hate crime and he has performed around the world and around the country and no one has come out and said I am going to charge you with hate speech.”

While the Meridian Centre is city-owned, there’s an arm’s length understanding that the centre is responsible for deciding on the acts invited to perform.

The first part of Miller’s motion asked city staff to create guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups and or advisory committees. That portion of the motion passed handily.

Miller said council likely doesn’t want to be in the business of event management, but added it’s important for councillors to listen to the anti-racism committee.

Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee, told a media outlet any comedy that relies on racism isn’t funny.

“What people need to understand is there’s a lot of harm caused by these kinds of so called ‘comedy’,” he said. “Other people will hear it and think it’s okay to be racist and misogynist and homophobic.”

Waziruddin added that recent acts of hate vandalism within St. Catharines, including the vandalism at Harriet Tubman Public School, show that the issue of racism is one not to be ignored in the city.

Speech to St. Catharines City Council on Cancelling Jeff Dunham Performance

Video with Q&A at https://youtu.be/B_3gH3uS0l0

For FULL clips of speech, Q&A, post-in-camera (closed session) debate and vote, and post-vote remarks, please see https://youtu.be/0x8_g7UTTXc (30 minute video)

Thank you mayor and councillors for listening to me tonight. I'm Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the City's Anti-Racism Advisory Committee.

We've seen right here the brazenness with which the hate crime vandalism of the Harriet Tubman Public School and nearby places happened without any hint of shame.

You councillors and other elected officials in Niagara have experienced this brazenness directly, no fear of getting caught.

We've seen the open brazenness with the recorded video of Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland being harassed.

They get this daring from the normalization of hate, from making a mockery and the butt of jokes of racialized people, women and 2slgbtqiia+ people. You don't just have to take my word for it though.

When StatCan recently came out with their report saying police-reported hate crimes have gone up 72% just over the last 2 years, and this is a very narrow definition of hate crimes and only the ones where people knew to call the police, the ED of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation said:

“It is a firehose of hate that is growing, honestly, like a wildfire, and unmitigated it will grow even further to a point where we will normalize being in a wildfire. That is because we have left this environment unchecked.”

There's no surprise about what's coming to town. Jeff Dunham's agent has already publicized that characters already condemned by industry associations and civil rights groups like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation as racist will be in the act, like Achmed the Dead Terrorist or “Jose Jalepeno”.

But don't just take my word for it, Jeff Dunham himself said he doesn't want to be that offensive but he feels he has to because that's what got him to where he is, that's what he's made his living off of.

But even more famous comedians like Jay Leno have apologized for a long history of racist jokes and said if comedians won't change they shouldn't be telling jokes, and when complaints came in before he had dismissed them as not being able to take a joke but he knew then in his heart that he was wrong, and even he is admitting it now.

You heard earlier tonight about how sports are adapting, so is comedy as it should and we should expect no less.

Remember please that this not just some private event that Council is being asked to intervene in, it is an event on City property paid for and maintained by our public money. The Meridian Centre doesn't get teleported to another galaxy because there is a ticketed, commercial event happening there, City policies still apply and as our elected officials you still have a say.

The City already has a policy making clear there is zero tolerance for racism and this kind of performance. The Rzone policy was initially designed to respond to hate and racism at sports events but it's clear that it is for all events and specifically mentioned the Meridian Centre.

Cancelling this performance would not be that unusual. It's been happening rapidly in the last few years, especially since re-openings began since the pandemic.

Just a few months ago almost right across the border at SUNY Plattsburgh they cancelled a transphobic comedian. Several cities in the UK cancelled a comedian just for a racist tweet last year, and his agent even dropped him. The residents of St. Catharines deserve no less.

Because you can't have it both ways. When there's a hate crime we can't say we're a compassionate city, racism won't be tolerated here, but when a brazenly openly racist, misogynist, homophobic act comes to down we say oh well we have no choice but to lie down and do nothing.

This is why it's vital to make an amendment to the motion tonight to direct staff to enter into negotiations with the relevant parties to pursue cancellation of this event. That's how it's been done elsewhere, that's how we can do it here to start reversing what's been called an escalating wildfire of hate around us.

St. Catharines is just one of the Ontario stops of Jeff Dunham's tour. We pride ourselves in our association with the history of Harriet Tubman, who did what was right without worrying about the barriers to justice and equality. St. Catharines has an opportunity here to lead the way, to bring the other cities in on this and to stop this harmful performance from not just coming to St. Catharines but also beyond.

From my experience, unfortunately there are some who are more concerned about not offending the racists or those who think racism is funny, than they are about the damage racism, misogyny, and homophobia causes to our communities. If Jay Leno can recognize comedy needs to change, if SUNY Plattsburgh can cancel a major comedian for transphobia, then we in St. Catharines can do the same.

Thank you.

St. Catharines anti-racism committee wants Jeff Dunham comedy show cancelled (CBC Hamilton)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/jeff-dunham-st-catharines-1.6565463 

St. Catharines anti-racism committee wants Jeff Dunham comedy show cancelled

Comedy that relies on racism isn't funny, committee chair says

Bobby Hristova · CBC News · Posted: Aug 29, 2022 2:26 PM ET | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago

Jeff Dunham is an American comedian and ventriloquist who rose to global stardom in the 2000s. (www.jeffdunham.com)

St. Catharines's anti-racism advisory committee is asking city council to cancel Jeff Dunham's comedy show at the Meridian Centre in November — but officials at the city-owned venue have not yet announced their plans.

Jeff Dunham is an American comedian best known for his ventriloquism. He gained global popularity in the 2000s but has also faced criticism in the past for portraying characters that rely on racial stereotypes.

Some of the characters on his current tour include a dead terrorist named Achmed and a "totally legal" jalapeño on a stick named José.

He's set to make a stop at the Meridian Centre on Nov. 20. Dunham's team didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee, told CBC Hamilton comedy that relies on racism isn't funny.

"What people need to understand is there's a lot of harm caused by these kinds of so called "comedy,"" he said. "Other people will hear it and think it's OK to be racist and misogynist and homophobic." 

Venue 'committed' to providing safe environment

Kay Meilleur, the Meridian Centre's marketing director, said in an email the views expressed by acts aren't necessarily shared by the venue or staff, and said they present acts for a diverse community.

"ASM Global and the Meridian Centre remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all fans and employees who choose to attend an event, while supporting those groups who choose not to attend due to content that might be viewed by some as offensive," Meilleur wrote in an email.

Waziruddin notes the city has an Rzone policy that applies to city recreational properties and states the municipality has zero tolerance for things like racism. 

... there's a lot of harm caused by these kinds of so called "comedy." Other people will hear it and think it's OK to be racist and misogynist and homophobic.- Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee

He said that policy should apply in this context given the Meridian Centre is city-owned.

Waziruddin said Dunham's show coming to the city is bad timing, especially given recent hate crimes and incidents, like a string of racist and homophobic graffiti near the downtown core.

City council to discuss motion Monday evening

Coun. Greg Miller, who is also on the committee, is putting forward a motion Monday before city council, calling on the city to ask ASM Global to consider cancelling the show.

The motion also asks city staff to create guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups and or advisory committees.

Miller said council likely doesn't want to be in the business of event management, but added it's important for councillors to listen to the anti-racism committee.

• 2 teens charged after acts of racist and homophobic vandalism in St. Catharines, police say

"I'm hopeful council will see the hypocrisy of asking fans who go to sporting events to not participate in intolerant behaviour abusive language and then paying someone to come to our city whose act has been called out in the past," he said.

"I don't think it's good enough to say 'it's just a joke.'"

Waziruddin said this is a chance for the city to be a leader, noting that Dunham is set to perform at other publicly-owned venues in Canada.

"We can't say we're a compassionate city with no place for racism when this kind of performance comes to town and we do nothing about it. We have to stop it," he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Hristova

Reporter

Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Hamilton. He reports on all issues, but has a knack for stories that hold people accountable, stories that focus on social issues and investigative journalism. He previously worked for the National Post and CityNews in Toronto. You can contact him at bobby.hristova@cbc.ca.

• Follow @bobbyhristova on Twitter

SALEH WAZIRUDDIN - CHAIR OF ST. CATHARINES ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH STEPH (610 CKTB NewsTalk Radio on stopping Jeff Dunham performance)

Hard link to audio file: https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/4809bc8a-e41a-405c-93da-a8cf011df2f4/a9d6d364-a8cb-44f1-b837-aa14010af355/61a1e10b-3c0c-4592-8fca-aefe00c78a22/audio.mp3

Soft link to article: https://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/audio/saleh-waziruddin-chair-of-st-catharines-anti-racism-advisory-committee-with-steph-1.18429664?mode=Article

THE WEEKEND EDITION WITH STEPH VIVIER

Saturday, August 27th 2022 - 8:09 am

Anti-racism committee says ventriloquist’s show no laughing matter (from St. Catharines Standard)

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2022/08/26/anti-racism-committee-says-ventriloquists-show-no-laughing-matter.html

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2022/08/26/anti-racism-committee-says-

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2022/08/26/anti-racism-committee-says-ventriloquists-show-no-laughing-matter.html

Anti-racism committee says ventriloquist’s show no laughing matter

City council being asked to help cancel Jeff Dunham show at Meridian Centre

By Karena WalterStandard Reporter

Fri., Aug. 26, 2022timer3 min. read

Booking comedian Jeff Dunham for an upcoming show at the St. Catharines-owned Meridian Centre has the city’s anti-racism advisory committee saying, Seriously?

The committee is asking city councillors to request the Meridian Centre cancel the American ventriloquist’s Nov. 20 show — something councillors will be discussing on Monday.

At issue are characters used in Dunham’s act and scheduled to be part of the North American “Jeff Dunham: Seriously?” tour that include a bearded skeleton puppet called Achmed the dead terrorist and a Latino puppet named “Jose Jalepeno.”

A Black puppet, Sweet Daddy Dee who’s a pimp, appears in Dunham’s older online videos but has reportedly been retired from the act.

A resolution from the committee, supported by the city’s social sustainability committee, says the characters are based on racist stereotypes and have no place in a city-owned facility.

“If the city is saying we’re a compassionate city, we take a stand against racism, there’s no room for racism or homophobia or misogyny here, then how can we have a performance that violates those policies on city property?” asked Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the city’s anti-racism advisory committee in an interview.

Waziruddin said holding the show would violate the city’s own Rzone policy — a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour and violence, including racism and hate speech, aimed at ensuring city spaces are inclusive for everyone.

“You can’t have it both ways,” he said. “You can’t say you’re a compassionate city against racism and then you do nothing when such a performance comes to town.”

The sustainability committee, to which the anti-racism committee reports, is requesting city council ask Meridian Centre management ASM Global to consider cancelling the Dunham performance.

It’s also asking the city to create guiding principles for future performances at all city facilities with input from equity seeking groups or advisory committees or both.

Merritton Coun. Greg Miller, a council representative on the social sustainability committee who’s making the motion, said he doesn’t want council getting involved in booking acts, but said there may be a blind spot in current city policies.

“As the motion for the anti-racism committee points out, it’s a little hypocritical to have a zero-tolerance policy for fans at kids’ hockey games and then be paying performers with what I would call intolerant acts monies to come and perform in the city.”

Dunham is one of the most famous comedians in the world and his Nov. 20 show is almost sold out at the 5,200 seat Meridian Centre. He performed to a sold out show at the centre previously in 2018.

Kay Meilleur, the centre’s director of marketing, said in an email the Meridian Centre presents a wide variety of music, comedy and other entertainment for a demographic that makes up a diverse community. She said the views expressed by all of the acts are not necessarily shared by the venue or the staff.

“ASM Global and the Meridian Centre remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all fans and employees who choose to attend an event, while supporting those groups who choose not to attend due to content that might be viewed by some as offensive.”

Representatives for Jeff Dunham did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2018, Dunham said some of the material he’s performed in the past makes him “cringe” a bit, but added “You don’t want to lose your edge either, that’s another fine line.”

He told the UK paper whatever he’s doing to offend three or four per cent of the people is what the other 96 per cent are “laughing at the hardest.”

Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering City Hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com