The renowned comedian George Lopez has been accused of prematurely ending his sold-out show and leaving his audience in the lurch last Friday, due to alleged heckling from the crowd.
The venue, Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California, expressed its disappointment in the 63-year-old comedian's actions, stating that he had let down his fans.
"George Lopez let down his fans and sold-out audience by walking out and ending his show 30 minutes early," the casino announced in a Facebook post, as reported by The New York Post. The venue, which accommodates 2,000 people, also revealed that Lopez had his private security team on hand, who could have "easily escorted any hecklers out."
According to the casino, a pre-show meeting had been held to strategize for potential interruptions from hecklers. "George decided to not continue with the show and leave," the casino stated, expressing their disappointment that Lopez did not allow their security team to handle the situation.
However, fans on social media have contested the venue's claims, stating that the interruptions were not from hecklers, but from fans expressing their support for the "Blue Beetle" actor. "It was not like he had 100 people heckling him," one person claimed on Facebook. "All it was was people yelling we love you and making references to old jokes."
This incident marks the second time Lopez has disappointed his fans at the Eagle Mountain Casino, with tickets costing at least $65. Previously, he had to cancel a show due to a medical emergency, which led to the rescheduling of the event to last Friday.
The disappointment was not limited to the fans. Employees at the casino also expressed their frustration. "Took my facilities team and I, 3 days midnight to 8 am (twice) to set up the event center for that dude. And both times he bailed on us and our casino," the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor for the casino commented.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Lopez told TMZ, "It's the venue or casino's job to provide a good experience for both the artist and the fans, but the casino failed in this regard. The audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests."
The spokesperson further added that Lopez's personal security team worked with the venue security staff to maintain order and ensure safety. However, they claimed that the casino's security team was inadequate for the task. "George is not obligated to perform in an unsafe environment. He feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result."
This incident follows a similar one in December when David Chappelle stormed off the stage during his gig at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, after spotting a fan using his cell phone. According to the Miami Herald, Chappelle, who was in the middle of his second of five nights performing at the 7,000-seat venue, pointed out the fan to security before scolding the audience and exiting the stage.
While the debate continues over who was at fault in the Lopez incident, it underscores the importance of maintaining a conducive environment for both performers and audiences at live events. It also raises questions about the role and effectiveness of security teams at such venues.
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