July 31st 2024.
Stand-up comedians have noticed a concerning trend among British audiences - an increase in unruly and even violent behavior. This is a problem that has affected many comedians, including Benjamin Bankole Bello, who created the character of President Obonjo 14 years ago. Despite years of performing, Benjamin had never experienced racial abuse on stage until April of this year.
It all began when Benjamin was scheduled to perform the headline slot at the West End Comedy Club. However, when a group of intoxicated individuals arrived during the interval, the atmosphere in the venue changed. Benjamin recalls feeling uncomfortable and sensing that these were not the right type of people to be in the audience. As he continued his set, he brushed off their disruptive behavior, thinking it was just another case of hecklers. However, it soon became apparent that this was more than just heckling - it was a hate crime.
The group began hurling racial slurs at Benjamin, including the N-word and referring to him as a monkey. Unable to tolerate the abuse any longer, Benjamin left the stage and the club took swift action in handling the situation. Off-duty police officer in the audience also assisted, leading to an arrest. This was a shocking and traumatic experience for Benjamin, who had never encountered such blatant racism while performing.
Although Benjamin had previously experienced racism at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it had always been in the form of verbal abuse on the streets. Never before had he been subjected to such hateful words while on stage. In the aftermath, Benjamin took to social media to spread awareness about the incident and the growing trend of abuse towards comedians. However, he faced backlash from some who accused him of overreacting and not being able to handle hecklers.
Despite the progress made in society, it seems that the issue of racism is still prevalent in the comedy industry. Comedians have noticed an increase in unruly behavior from audiences, and it is not limited to just racial abuse. This trend has been observed in other forms of entertainment as well, such as theatre and music. Even outside of the performing arts, there have been reports of customers behaving badly in public places.
One theory that was suggested to explain this behavior was the "caveman theory," which suggested that after months of lockdowns due to Covid-19, audiences had forgotten how to behave in social settings. However, this theory fails to fully explain the root cause of the problem. Comedian Nish Kumar, who also experienced racial abuse during his shows, believes that there is something more at play here.
According to Fern Brady, who has performed in over 20 countries, audiences in the UK are the worst behaved, with the exception of her tour audiences who are always lovely. She has had her fair share of threatening and even violent experiences, such as being chased out of a show and being told to "go back to Glasgow." This kind of behavior seems to be more common at mixed bill events and stand-up nights rather than tour shows.
Dani Johns, a Bristol MC and comedian, also had to deal with a disruptive audience member who refused to leave and even waited for her outside after the show. She had to be escorted to her car out of concern for her safety. Liam Withnail, another comedian, believes that this behavior is not a result of the pandemic, but rather a deeper issue with the UK's drinking and drug habits. Studies have shown that the UK has the highest rate of cocaine use in Europe, and this often goes hand in hand with alcohol abuse.
In conclusion, the rise in unruly and violent behavior from British audiences is a concerning trend that has affected many comedians. It is not just limited to racial abuse but also extends to other forms of disruptive behavior. This is a problem that needs to be addressed and tackled, not just in the entertainment industry but also in society as a whole.
Stand-up comedians in Britain have recently noticed a concerning trend among audiences. It seems that disrespectful and even hateful behavior has become more prevalent in comedy clubs. For comedian Benjamin Bankole Bello, this unfortunate reality hit close to home during a performance earlier this year. Despite creating his character of President Obonjo 14 years ago, Bello had never experienced racial abuse on stage until that night.
Bello had been excited to headline at the West End Comedy Club, but everything changed when a group of drunken audience members arrived during the interval before his set. The atmosphere in the venue shifted, and Bello could sense that these individuals were not the right crowd for his performance. However, he brushed it off and continued with his act, as he had dealt with hecklers before. But this time, it was not just heckles. The group began hurling racial slurs at Bello, including the N-word and calling him a monkey. Unable to take it any longer, Bello was forced to leave the stage.
Thankfully, the club staff and an off-duty police officer in the audience were quick to handle the situation, resulting in an arrest. Bello was shocked by this experience, as he had never faced such blatant racism while performing on stage. He had encountered racist abuse before, but only in the streets during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This incident was a wake-up call for Bello, who felt the need to spread awareness about the rise in abusive behavior in the comedy industry.
Unfortunately, Bello faced backlash for speaking out about his experience on social media. Some accused him of getting the offender arrested simply because he couldn't handle a heckle. But Bello's intention was to shed light on the increasing amount of abuse and hate in the comedy world. He and his fellow comedians have noticed a rise in unruly behavior from audiences, and they are struggling to understand the cause behind it.
This trend is not limited to stand-up comedy, as it has been seen in other forms of entertainment as well. The reopening of theatres after Covid lockdowns has brought about a wave of disruptive and even violent behavior from audiences. From a Manchester performance of "Bodyguard: The Musical" to a Pink concert where a fan threw human remains at the singer, it seems that the lack of socialization during lockdown has affected people's behavior in public settings.
But even three years after the last lockdown ended, comedians are still facing these challenges in their shows. Comedian Fern Brady has her own share of stories, including being chased out of a show in Hampton Court by a screaming audience member. She believes that the UK has a particular type of audience that is poorly behaved, especially at mixed bill events. And while she has learned to handle these situations, it has taken a toll on her emotionally.
Similarly, Bristol MC and comedian Dani Johns has had to remove audience members from her shows multiple times in the past year alone. She has encountered disruptive and even threatening behavior, which has made her feel unsafe while performing and leaving the venue. Comedian Liam Withnail also believes that this trend is not a result of the pandemic, but rather a reflection of the UK's drinking and drugs habits. With high rates of cocaine and alcohol use, it is no surprise that these substances are often linked to the disruptive behavior seen in comedy clubs.
In conclusion, it is clear that there has been a rise in negative and threatening behavior from audiences in the comedy industry. Whether it is due to the effects of the pandemic or deeper societal issues, it is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed. Comedians like Benjamin Bankole Bello are speaking out and bringing attention to this issue, in hopes of finding a solution and creating a safer and more respectful environment for all performers.
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