The Port Theatre Society in Nanaimo has opted to cancel an upcoming show due to the controversial content of the headlining comedian.
On March 21st, the theatre was to host a show featuring Canadian-born comedian Ben Bankas, who is now based out of Austin, Texas.
Many find his jokes to be offensive, as a number of them are racially charged.
In one of his jokes that surfaced online this week, Bankas says, “I’m trying to get used to America… obviously Canada doesn’t really have Mexican people, they don’t really have Black people—I know it sounds like paradise.”
The post was made in an effort to demonstrate that Bankas’ comedy is problematic in nature.
“It distresses me that humour or speech that promotes hatred to any group is allowed,” said one commenter. “What kind of society is this that we are in?”
However others said they believe that by cancelling the show, the Port Theatre Society was engaging in censorship.
Other Bankas jokes refer to Winnipeg as an “Indigenous zombie apocalypse” and he has a joke in which he infers he wishes more people died in last year’s Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy in Vancouver.
The Port Theatre Society released an announcement saying the Bankas event was cancelled following a comprehensive review of their policies, which included adherence to the BC Human Rights Code, as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“As the operator of the Port Theatre, the Society has a duty to provide a safe environment to staff, volunteers, patrons, artists and members of the community,” wrote the Port Theatre Society in a media release.
“After an extensive internal and external review of safety, operational and legal factors, the Society determined proceeding with the rental [to Bankas] would be inconsistent with those obligations.”
The society added that although this show was cancelled, they remain committed to upholding freedom of expression, so long as it is within the bounds of the law.
The review conducted by the society came after a Nanaimo city council meeting in which the Bankas show was discussed.
During the February 23rd meeting, city council voted in favour of having the Port Theatre Society conduct the policy review, rather than having the show cancelled by their hands.
As of this publication, Bankas’ is still scheduled to appear in Campbell River at the Tidemark Theatre on March 22nd.
He is also still slated to perform in Kelowna, Lethbridge, Calgary and Niagara Falls on his “I Said What I Said” tour.
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