Sydney’s Enmore Theatre was set to host Reuben Kaye’s The Butch is Back stage show on Friday night, but the gay comedian and cabaret entertainer had to postpone it over safety concerns amid a planned religious protest. Earlier this year, Reuben made a dirty joke about Jesus live on 10’s The Project, which caused outrage and prompted the show to issue a formal apology to viewers. The comedian’s comment prompted religious protesters to rally in Newtown and outside Network 10’s studios, which he called “breaking Australia.”
Reuben took to Instagram to explain the postponement and apologize to fans who were looking forward to the show. “There were some planned protests that meant it would be very complicated and difficult for me to guarantee the audience’s safety, the other comedian’s safety, my safety, my band’s safety, and even the safety of the businesses on Enmore Road,” he said. “So we’ve postponed the show to a later date where it’s easier for us to do that for you.”
Reuben is known for his jokes about religion and drag, and he made new jabs at these topics during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March. The comedian, who is Jewish, criticized hateful drag bans and compared drag queens to priests, saying, “The worst thing a drag queen’s gonna put on a kid’s face is glitter.” He also sang about his “39 lashes” and ended his set surrounded by drag queens, declaring, “Nailed it!”
Reuben’s humor may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his right to express himself freely and safely should be respected. The postponement of his show is a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of performers and audience members in the face of potential threats or protests.