An Ojibway woman says she was among at least 30 people who left Rumor’s Comedy Club in Winnipeg on Friday because of various racist and homophobic comments they heard from the stage.
Kelsey Lenaghan says that the set of the comic book Rich Vos turned her off almost immediately, which included what she called harassment of a table of indigenous women.
“One of the things he said was, ‘Listen, ma’am, I’m not your sponsor. You have to go to your next AA meeting.
The American comedian also made a joke about the hope that women would receive a fine for driving under the influence on the way home, he recalled, which he felt perpetuated offensive stereotypes.
Lenaghan, who is from the Pinaymootang First Nation, says the women’s table was left in the middle of his tirade and he left the club to follow them to make sure they were okay. When he got to them, he said they were upset.
“Why can’t we go out on a fun night without our indignity being raised, without that being the center of their jokes and attacks?” said Lenaghan. “Seeing that my sisters and family are being treated that way, you have that sense of protection.”
Why can’t we go out on a fun night without our indignity being raised, without that being the center of their jokes and attacks? – Kelsey Lenaghan
Although he was out of the auditorium for part of his set, Lenaghan says he could hear Vos continuing his comments about the women.
“It completely ruined the night and … it’s hanging over our heads over the weekend. It’s disgusting,” he said.
Shelly Lavallee, one of the women who was directly insulted by Vos, said in a statement to CBC News that she left the show feeling spiritually hurt.
“It is not up to us to be prepared to harden our hearts and be equipped to laugh at the traumatic events,” the Métis woman said in the statement. “Rumor’s nightclub has an ethical responsibility to ensure that everyone is safe from insensitive racial ambushes.”
Rich Vos put on four shows at Winnipeg’s Rumor’s Comedy Club, including one featuring at least 30 people. (Rumor’s Comedy Club / Facebook)
Mark Turner, who was sitting at a table with Lenaghan, says he felt uncomfortable throughout the set of Vos, including when the comic used the word “gay” in a derogatory sense, but did not want to make a scene because he was in a birthday. party.
However, he said that everyone in his party had reached a breaking point.
“What he said made our table say,‘ Right, that’s it. We’ve had enough, “and he got up and went out in unison.” Everyone should go back to their shit —- – Wigwam, “Turner said, adding that a comment particularly towards the group of indigenous women after they had left.
“He was very clearly racist and no one really laughed. I found him full of racial attacks, especially against the indigenous community.”
Tyler Schultz, the club’s general manager and reservist, says he was there for the Vos set that night and confirmed that he heard some of the racist comments towards Indigenous women.
Schultz said he saw Vos feeling frustrated with them, as Schultz says the women were making noise and interrupting the show.
He was very clearly racist and no one really laughed. It seemed to me full of racial attacks, especially against the indigenous community.- Mark Turner
Prior to his performance, says Schultz, Vos had made it clear to the security guard that he wanted to speak directly to the interlocutors or people who were speaking as a whole and did not want the guard to intervene.
Then, says Schultz, he tried to educate Vos about how his jokes were perceived by the audience and says that the comic seemed to have no idea how offensive they were.
“In a culture that is so quick to try to cancel people and jump into their megaphones on social media to try to cancel people, we believe in educating people,” Schultz said.
“We don’t want to censor our comics, but if that kind of thing happens, we definitely don’t notice racist comments like this.”
Schultz says the rest of Vos’s shows over the weekend went smoothly and no one came out. However, he said that he will not book you again.
Code of conduct
Both Lenaghan and Turner want Rumor’s to establish a code of conduct similar to that established by the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, which works to ensure that all attendees attend shows free of harassment, hostility, and abuse.
“If we have comedians coming here, these are certain things that you can’t touch on. These are areas that shouldn’t be talked about. I think this code of conduct would be a good place to start,” Lenaghan said. .
“If you’re going to come to Canada, learn about the people who are from this land, be willing to treat people with respect so we can go to a comedy show and be able to laugh a lot together.”
Lenaghan also blames Rumor staff, including Schultz, for blaming indigenous women instead of canceling the rest of Vos’ shows that weekend.
Schultz says he advises comics against jokes that may be very offensive, including sexually explicit or directed material, prior to his performances because he doesn’t normally “get along” with the Rumor audience, but doesn’t explicitly forbid it.
Turner says what he witnessed on Friday’s show was wrong.
“I think when minority groups or groups that specifically target comedy, if they don’t find it funny and if they find it hurtful or harmful, then I think that’s a very clear indicator that it’s not comedy,” he said.
CBC News has not been able to contact you for comments.