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The First Avenue Theater wants everyone to know that they “believe in diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression.” That’s why the Minneapolis venue decided at the last minute to cancel an appearance of comic Dave Chappelle for, um … not hewing entirely to the progressive ideology that makes transgenderism beyond any question or commentary.

That’s some kind of commitment to “diverse voices and the freedom of artistic expression,” eh?

I’ve heard that “cancel culture” doesn’t exist. This looks a lot like “cancel culture” to me, especially since it involves a literal cancellation.

Apparently the First Avenue theater management values the ideal of being “the safest spaces in the country” rather than real diversity and artistic expression. It’s an ironic claim in a city wracked with riots two years ago and angry demonstrations on the streets ever since, but it’s also a claim that would force First Avenue to close its doors entirely. Artistic expression that parrots a narrow dominant-culture line is not artistic at all. Diversity defined in the context of silencing anything that challenges an audience is Newspeak for enforced conformity. First Avenue would literally prefer to go dark than let an artist offer a heterodox view or even tell a joke that may (or may not!) fall flat on this particular audience.

So here’s a big question: why did First Avenue book Chappelle in the first place? Unless it’s run by hermits, First Avenue management knows how controversial Chappelle has been. They likely wanted the buzz Chappelle would bring, and certainly had to know his material. If Chappelle was so unsafe, why book him in the first place?

Or did First Avenue have some other reason for canceling Chappelle? Via Leah Barkoukis:

In other words, First Avenue caved to the mob. And by doing so, joined forces with those fascists who want to silence anyone who fails to adhere to their radical ideology. That is neither safe or diverse, and it certainly voids any claim First Avenue has a venue for “artistic expression.” They have signed up to be mouthpieces for that violent mob.

Speaking of “safe,” John Hinderaker rightly scoffs at the use of the term:

This is one of countless instances of misuse of the word “safe.” In fact, First Avenue has never been particularly safe, and with the current crime wave in Minneapolis it is hardly one of “the safest spaces in the country.” But danger comes from criminals, not from comedians like Dave Chappelle. The danger that free-spirited comedians pose is to liberal shibboleths, which is too much for First Avenue, now just another worn-out establishment institution.

Chappelle’s show did go on at the Varsity, which showed a lot more intestinal fortitude than First Avenue. A Strib review of the show sniffed at the high prices Chappelle gets — clearly still a popular act — and reported that Chappelle wasn’t terribly impressed with First Avenue’s courage either. Chappelle let it slip that the radical activists had threatened the families of First Avenue staff, although the Varsity didn’t let it bother them when it came to letting Chappelle express himself:

He also ridiculed protesters who had spent a few hours outside the Varsity before the show, swearing through bullhorns and picking fights with fans. Chappelle referred to them as a small group of transgender lunatics and joked that they were probably hired by his wife, determined to suck the joy out of his life. He also shrugged off the idea that they posed any real threat.

“I can see a transgender hit squad coming from a mile away,” he said, slapping the microphone against his thigh, a move that’s become his trademark.

He pulled his punches when it came to First Avenue, a club that gave him a star on its Wall of Fame in 2013, but then canceled his show Wednesday after it was heavily criticized for the booking.

Early in the set, Chappelle seemed sympathetic, sharing that he had heard children of some First Avenue staffers had been threatened. But after a few glasses of booze (and a Foggy Geezer beer) he admitted that the cancellation had been devastating and hoped the club would be more courageous in the future.

First Avenue shouldn’t have a future, not with headliners. This should be a signal to comics and other acts that the place to be in Minneapolis is the Varsity, and that First Avenue is worthless when it comes to defending artistic expression or diversity from the conformist enforcers of the radical Left.

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