Chicago venue cancels Milo Yiannopoulos' event after backlash
Thu. October 19, 2017 12:15 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
milo yiannopoulos’ troll academy tour' cancelled in chicago
photo credit // facebook
Yiannopoulos’ 'Troll Academy Tour' was previously planned for 11 U.S. cities
Chicago, IL -
Milo Yiannopoulos' Nov. 13 show at the Patio Theater in Portage Park was cancelled Wednesday after fierce backlash and planned protests over the booking of the controversial alt-right author and speaker.
"We have heard the voices of our patrons and neighbors and have cancelled the Milo Yiannopoulos show previously scheduled at Patio Theater," read a statement issued by theater staff. "While Patio Theater prides itself on being on of the few truly independent venues in Chicago, the views and opinions of the performers do not necessarily reflect the views of this organization."
Yiannopoulos posted on Facebook, "Both my events in Chicago and Kansas City have been cancelled by the venue after pressure from far-left activists. Both venues were made fully aware of who the speaker was, contrary to their public statements, from the very beginning. Both signed contracts with us to proceed."
"Nevertheless, the losers of the Left have once again successfully used threats of violence to shut down speech they disagree with, depriving Americans of the chance to see who they want to see and enjoy what they want to enjoy. (Me!)," he concluded.
The Patio Theater operator told the Chicago Sun-Times that some 400 tickets to the show had been sold. Refunds are available at ticketfly.com.
The Folly Theater in Kansas City cancelled Yiannopoulos' Nov. 5 show last Friday.
Yiannopoulos, an out conservative and former Breitbart staffer, was a leading voice for the alt-right movement during the 2016 presidential election. The 32-year-old quit Breitbart amid criticism over comments he made that appeared to condone pedophilia. The comments also cost him a book deal with Simon & Schuster.
Related: Milo Yiannopoulos marries boyfriend in Hawaii
"We have heard the voices of our patrons and neighbors and have cancelled the Milo Yiannopoulos show previously scheduled at Patio Theater," read a statement issued by theater staff. "While Patio Theater prides itself on being on of the few truly independent venues in Chicago, the views and opinions of the performers do not necessarily reflect the views of this organization."
Yiannopoulos posted on Facebook, "Both my events in Chicago and Kansas City have been cancelled by the venue after pressure from far-left activists. Both venues were made fully aware of who the speaker was, contrary to their public statements, from the very beginning. Both signed contracts with us to proceed."
"Nevertheless, the losers of the Left have once again successfully used threats of violence to shut down speech they disagree with, depriving Americans of the chance to see who they want to see and enjoy what they want to enjoy. (Me!)," he concluded.
The Patio Theater operator told the Chicago Sun-Times that some 400 tickets to the show had been sold. Refunds are available at ticketfly.com.
The Folly Theater in Kansas City cancelled Yiannopoulos' Nov. 5 show last Friday.
Yiannopoulos, an out conservative and former Breitbart staffer, was a leading voice for the alt-right movement during the 2016 presidential election. The 32-year-old quit Breitbart amid criticism over comments he made that appeared to condone pedophilia. The comments also cost him a book deal with Simon & Schuster.
Related: Milo Yiannopoulos marries boyfriend in Hawaii