Minneapolis venue First Avenue canceled a sold-out show of comedian Dave Chappelle hours before its expected start on Wednesday.
"To staff, artists, and our community, we hear you and we are sorry," First Avenue said in a statement. "We must hold ourselves to the highest standards, and we know we let you down. We are not just a black box with people in it, and we understand that First Ave is not just a room, but meaningful beyond our walls."
"The First Avenue team and you have worked hard to make our venues 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. We know there are some who will not agree with this decision; you are welcome to send feedback."
Chappelle said First Avenue's decision was "devastating," reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He told fans to still support First Avenue because it is "an important place for our culture."
The show was moved to the Varsity Theater, a Minneapolis venue that is not affiliated with First Avenue, for shows on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Protesters showed up at the Varsity Theater for the first rescheduled show Wednesday night, chanting "Trans rights matter!"
"[F]ans lining up to see comedian Dave Chappelle were met by about 50 protesters who shouted, chanted, and waved signs in support of transgender rights," reports the Star Tribune.
A petition on Change.org titled "First Ave: Don't Platform Transphobe Dave Chappelle!" was posted on Tuesday.
The petition received 125 signatures (at the time of writing).
"Dave Chappelle has a record of being dangerous to trans people, and First Avenue has a duty to protect the community," the petition states. "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."
First Avenue's Code of Conduct states, "Acting or speaking in a discriminatory manner or using racist, sexist, ableist, transphobic, homophobic, xenophobic, or other biased language, including intentional misgendering" is "not welcome" at the venue.
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