Sydney venue cancels Israeli comedians, blaming ‘feedback’, ‘perceived insensitivity’ and security concerns

A Sydney theatre has canned a show by two high-profile Israeli comedians, blaming ‘feedback’, the act’s ‘perceived insensitivity’, and security concerns for the cancellation.

Israeli comedians Yohay Sponder, left, and Shahar Hason scrambled to find a new venue after the Chauvel Cinema, in Paddington, cancelled on the comedic duo. Picture: Jane Dempster

A Sydney theatre has canned a show by two Israeli comedians, blaming “feedback”, the act’s “perceived insensitivity”, and ­security concerns for the cancellation.

Shahar Hason and Yohay Sponder – two of Israel’s biggest comedy stars – said they were being held to a different standard because of their race and religion after the move by Chauvel Cinema, operated by Palace Cinemas, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. “This is our first time in Australia and we didn’t expect to face these sorts of difficulties,” Sponder said.

The Ritz Randwick has since stepped in and will host the duo on Monday night.

“We came here to do comedy, that’s it,” Hason said.

Mr Sponder and Mr Hason will perform at the Ritz Randwick on March 4. Picture: Jane Dempster

In February, Palace Cinemas wrote to the production team ­behind the show – called Funny Monday – to say it was “reassessing” the booking. It cited “feedback expressing concerns about perceived insensitivity”, social media videos of the duo’s act, and a cartoon depicting Hason’s head in an old-fashioned cannon ­painted with the Israeli flag.

“We appreciate the comedic talents of Mr Hason and Mr Sponder and the joy they bring to their audience,” an email said.

“However, in light of the current conflict, we want to express our sensitivity to the ongoing situation and feel it’s important to avoid making light of such matters, even if unintentional.”

Management said that “from a risk-assessment standpoint”, the safety of staff and the premises had also been “compromised”.

The production team wrote back rejecting the accusations, saying different standards were being applied. “These allegations are false and subject Jews and Israelis to different standards than everyone else,” they said.

The comedic pair said they were undeterred. “There are people that don’t like it, but we came here to do comedy,” Hason said.

“We’re not coming here to tell (Australians) there’s a finger in your eye. There’s a finger and there’s an eye – there’s no connection between them. Hold your finger and see with your eye, and we can be fine.”

Sponder said he didn’t understand the decision. “We make jokes about everything that’s going on, it doesn’t matter what,” he said. “Everything that happens we make fun of.”

The duo will instead perform at the Ritz after Palace Cinemas cancelled the pair’s booking.

Sponder said venues should “cancel people that want to hurt people” and not those that “want to make people laugh”.

The pair make jokes about the conflict and being Jewish, among other topics, and Sponder said leaders and events of all stripes were the butt of their jokes, ­including themselves and their government. “Most of our jokes make fun of us … we don’t say anything about (Palestinian people). Most are about our side and us,” Hason said.

Australia’s culture sphere since October 7 has splintered, with cancellations and doxxing of both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine artists. In November, the Sydney Theatre Company apologised for an onstage pro-Palestine protest, while influencer Clementine Ford is facing questions about an upcoming Sydney Opera House event after she was involved in the doxxing of 600 Jewish creatives.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim. Picture: John Feder

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said excuses for de-platforming Israeli or Jewish artists did “not stand up to scrutiny”. “These people proudly identify as Jews – having the same rights as everyone else – and that’s the reason they are being singled out for exclusion,” he said.

“It is corroding cultural life … Instead of a genuine diversity of ideas and perspectives, audiences are being fed a diet of contemporary far-left orthodoxy.”

Libertarian Party NSW MP John Ruddick said he didn’t condemn the venue, rather those who gave “feedback”. “(The venue is) likely apolitical business people who got frightened of a boycott or physical intimidation,” he said, criticising recent anti-Israel disruption and harassment, and a spike in anti-Semitism.

Palace Cinemas said it cancelled the booking as it did not feel it was “appropriate” to host events that “comedically referenced” the conflict. “We want to express our sensitivity … and feel it’s important to avoid making light of such ­matters at this time,” a spokeswoman said.

She said the company received feedback about the production’s posts, which it said had been removed from the pair’s Australian platform, and that it had given the opportunity to ­“address concerns” before a final decision was made.