Comedian Pete Davidson reportedly backed out of a comedy gig after the club’s owner cracked a few jokes about his famous ex girlfriends Ariana Grande and Kate Beckinsale.
[jwplayer gNKCqtOD]
Us Weekly reports that the comic left The Stress Factory Comedy Club just before he was scheduled to perform after being “disrespected” by the owner, Vinnie Brand.
The Saturday Night Live star took to his Instagram Stories later that night to apologise to fans for leaving and promised to make it up to them.
Although the 25-year-old kept it vague as to why he had backed out of the show, an insider told the publication that Brand “went out on stage,” despite the comedian’s request that he didn’t, and “in an obvious attempt to embarrass Pete, sarcastically said ‘don’t ask any questions about his exes Ariana Grande or Kate Beckinsale.’”
The insider adds: “Pete was not about to to let this guy ruin his show, disrespect him and abuse the names of women Pete respects and cares about. Pete has been doing great. He’s happy and has been really enjoying traveling and doing shows. It’s sad that people like this club owner would pull a stunt like this just to bring attention to himself and his club.”
A second source said that Brand “wouldn’t get off stage, and once he made fun of Pete’s dating life, Pete left.” The insider adds, “Pete didn’t feel safe in a place owned by someone who would be so disrespectful and dishonest.”
According to the insider, Davidson already had a show opener planned and “didn’t want to make the crowd wait longer to see him,” therefore, he told Brand not to take the stage before him.
Check out Brand’s little spiel below via the gossip mongers at TMZ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn8Cpz9UyDU
The club owner has since told the publication that he was “shocked” by Davidson’s sudden departure, as “everything was great [and] he was fine” just minutes prior.
“What happened last night is beyond strange and shocking,” Brand adds. “His security team … sent me an email about Pete not wanting any cell phones out or anyone to yell out specifically about Ariana [Grande] and Kate [Beckinsale]. … I said I would protect him and make a quick five-minute announcement about the [rules].”
Brand explains that he got up on stage to tell the audience that if they went against the guidelines, they would “be removed from the room.” He continues, “Right before I went on stage, we were fine. Pete and I were friends!”
When Brand got off the stage, however, he says the SNL cast member got upset, “asked why I had disrespected him” and left. The club owner adds that he had “three people policing the audience” and wanted Davidson to feel “comfortable” during the performance.
“I would never do a joke about [his love life],” Brand notes. “I’ve known him for years — way before he was a big star. … I was shocked [by his actions]. It was unlike him; we were friends.”
Brand concludes that he “refunded … the audience’s tickets” and “told the truth about what happened.” However, an eyewitness claims that “Vinnie is lying” about the evening’s events.
The onlooker explains, “Pete and his group were trying to leave [and] Vinnie was super aggressive, cursing and trying to push past some of the guys and get into the car that Pete was leaving in.”
Members of the audience took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the incident, with some taking Pete’s side and others agreeing with the club owner.
When a comic brings their opening act, and asks you not to perform first, and you do anyway, only to kill the crowd… Yeah, this is all on you, Vinnie. #HogTheSpotlighthttps://t.co/cYYiY7JvOb
— stonerchat on Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts (@stonerchat) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Offthebranch1/status/1123392736202244096
Pete was sensitive. But you are shit for handling it like some kind of wrestling promo. That was unnecessary.
— BlackAmerican (@reese_fish) April 30, 2019
#PeteDavidson is the biggest baby in comedy. Don’t date celebrity women if you can’t handle what goes along with it. Can’t believe I’m agreeing with Vinay, but Pete is a #DramaQueen. @BenningtonShow. @Vinnie_Brand @StressFactoryCT
https://t.co/7S9ZvYShu0— Ace Queen (@TheWowActor) April 30, 2019
Totally inaccurate. Owner made no jokes, not even sarcastically. @StressFactoryCT
— Ryan (@rbirgey) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/HarryChadha_/status/1123064562847293440
nahhh fuck vinnie brand
— abby (@abby_cloud) April 30, 2019
