- Six performances on the upcoming tour have been annulled.
Stand-up comedian Luke Mockridge (35) encounters escalating repercussions for his crude jokes focusing on the Paralympics. Subsequent to the termination of his new Sat.1 comedy special by the broadcaster, six shows on his "Luke Mockridge - Funny Times" tour have also been scrapped. Gigs scheduled for September 14 in Mainz, October 15 and 16 in Bonn, October 17 in Siegen, and October 25 and 26 in Gelsenkirchen will not materialize.
Event venues cancel Luke Mockridge gigs
The Frankfurter Hof Mainz event venue's site mentions: "The Luke Mockridge show, scheduled as part of the FUNNY TIMES tour on September 14, 2024, has been called off by the organizer (Konzertbuero Schoneberg GmbH)." No reasons are disclosed for the cancellation in the message.
Mockridge's performances in Bonn will also be dropped. The event venue's "Haus der Springmaus" website states: "Following consultation with the agency and the artist, we have opted to cancel the two Luke Mockridge events scheduled for October 15 and 16." The venue publicly distances itself from "statements that ridicule people with disabilities in a derogatory and disrespectful manner."
The comedian's shows on October 25 and 26 in Gelsenkirchen have also been axed. According to the organizer emschertainment's website, "We have taken note of Luke Mockridge's statements about the Paralympics and people with disabilities in the podcast 'die Deutschen' with deep regret and astonishment. His statements are offensive and shameful." As a result, the shows scheduled and already sold out for October 25 and 26, 2024 at the Gelsenkirchen KAUE will not transpire.
Mockridge's performance on October 17 in Siegerlandhalle's Leonhard-Glasser Hall is also canceled, as per the venue's Siegerlandhalle website.
Controversial statements and the uproar
The furore and criticism arose from an episode of the podcast "Die Deutschen" by Nizar (40) and Shayan, featuring Mockridge as a guest. The episode, published mid-August, saw Mockridge making insensitive jokes at the expense of people with disabilities. Among others, former track cyclist and two-time Olympic champion Kristina Vogel (33), who became paralyzed following a training accident in 2018, called Mockridge's remarks "disgusting garbage."
As a consequence, Sat.1 terminated the comedy quiz "What's in the box?". Mockridge's television comeback was initially set to air on September 12. He also stepped down from a short-term event for the comedy series "Night Wash." Mockridge was supposed to perform alongside other comedians on the stage in Paderborn's castle park last Sunday (8 September), but the comedy evening went on – without Luke Mockridge.
The cancellation of Luke Mockridge's shows at various venues can be seen as further Consequences for Luke Mockridge, as event organizers publicly distance themselves from his controversial comments about people with disabilities. The organizer of the Gelsenkirchen shows, emschertainment, expressed deep regret and astonishment over Mockridge's offensive statements.
Due to the backlash, several venues have decided to cancel Mockridge's upcoming shows, resulting in the loss of six gigs in total. This includes performances in Mainz, Bonn, Siegen, and Gelsenkirchen, with venues citing his derogatory remarks as the reason for their decisions.
