Killing Comedy: Chicago Improv Theater Closes After Owner Is Accused Of Racism

[PeteS in CA]

https://hotair.com/archives/john-s-2/2020/06/23/killing-comedy-chicago-improv-theater-closes-owner-accused-racism/

Killing Comedy: Chicago Improv Theater Closes After Owner Is Accused Of Racism

Comedy has long been a target of woke politics. In Chicago, activists started a petition accusing the owner of the iO Improv Theater of an “individual history of racism.” The petition, which started with five student permormers at the theater, demanded that owner Charna Halpern, “acknowledge the harm this has caused to individuals, communities, and the comedy world as a whole.”

In addition to the blanket apology, the petition demanded Halpern hire an “outside BIPOC Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator.” Actually, the petition didn’t want Halpern to hire her own black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) diversity coordinator, it wanted her to let a committee of BIPOC and LGBTQ performers and students make the hiring decision, she just had to pay for it. As a result of these demands, made in the midst of a pandemic when the theater has been closed, the iO Improv Theater is now closing for good. So what exactly was the racism that prompted all of this? The activists won’t say:

Being a bit lazy, I'll just summarize the story. Halpern organized her theater to include a special focus for "nonwhite, LGBT and disabled students" to get training, experience, and exposure. Her accusers are some of her students. She's been doing this for decades, apparently. Based on the accusers' unwillingness to provide details and evidence to support their accusation, it's very probable that one or several of them have some private personal beef that they took out on Halpern with a false accusation. And now they've destroyed her effort and their own - and others' - gateway into the entertainment industry. To me it looks like an example of the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished."

[mountaineer]

"No good deed goes unpunished."

Pretty much. Looks like today's versions of comedians think comedy must not offend anyone.  Good luck.

[The_Reader_David]

 Looks like today's versions of comedians think comedy must not offend anyone. 

Anyone except Christians; pious Orthodox Jews; people who aren't particularly religious, but have traditional views on sexual morality; rednecks; people living in rural parts of the U.S.; Republicans; . . .

[Smokin Joe]

Anyone except Christians; pious Orthodox Jews; people who aren't particularly religious, but have traditional views on sexual morality; rednecks; people living in rural parts of the U.S.; Republicans; . . .

Yep, all fair game....

[PeteS in CA]

Assuming Halpern and her business partner are liberal like most in the entertainment industry, the pathetic part in this is that they've put their $$ and business where their mouth is and have made particular effort to train and boost minorities (in a business that, contrary to their talk, has not been very welcoming of minorities). IOW, help them start careers rather than being dependent on government programs.

I probably would disagree with Halpern about much, but unlike many in her industry she has laced up her work boots (metaphorically) and walked her talk. I can respect that. And now her fellow Libs/Progs have shut her down.

[Smokin Joe]

Assuming Halpern and her business partner are liberal like most in the entertainment industry, the pathetic part in this is that they've put their $$ and business where their mouth is and have made particular effort to train and boost minorities (in a business that, contrary to their talk, has not been very welcoming of minorities). IOW, help them start careers rather than being dependent on government programs.

I probably would disagree with Halpern about much, but unlike many in her industry she has laced up her work boots (metaphorically) and walked her talk. I can respect that. And now her fellow Libs/Progs have shut her down.

Libs eat their own. From Trotsky to Che' and beyond, it has ever been so.