Canadian comedian Ben Bankas is pushing ahead with his planned Kelowna, B.C., stop, despite growing calls to cancel the show.
In a video posted online ahead of March 19, Bankas tells fans he’s coming to Kelowna. Wearing a Kelowna Rockets jersey, the Toronto-born comic, now based in Austin, Texas, is seen stepping off a plane in another online video saying “can’t stop me.”
Bankas has built a reputation for controversial material, including a recent set where he compared Winnipeg to an apocalyptic scene involving Indigenous people.
Kelowna Pride spokesperson Candace Banks says that kind of content is part of a broader pattern.
“If you look up any of the clips on YouTube, it only takes a second for him to get into trashing immigrants, Indigenous people, women, trans folks, queer folks,” they said.
His “I Said What I Said” tour has already faced fallout. A show in Nanaimo was cancelled, with the Port Theatre saying it supports freedom of expression within the bounds of the law.
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In the U.S., multiple sold-out shows in Minnesota were also scrapped after backlash to a routine referencing Renée Good, a 37-year-old mother who was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this year.
Bankas joked about her death during a performance, saying it was ‘good,’ drawing widespread criticism.
“To make light of the death of a human, an innocent woman, that’s not comedy,” Banks said.
Kelowna Pride is now calling on Prospera Place to cancel Thursday’s show.
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“Especially for a public venue where we get most of our entertainment from, I think our entire community needs to feel comfortable and safe there. With events like this, there is no safety,” they said.
In a statement, Prospera Place says it is listening to feedback.
“The venue hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, presented by different organizers. When providing the space for these events, we recognize that not every performance will resonate positively with the whole of our community,” said Prospera Place.
“Any decisions related to an event proceeding are considered carefully and take into account a variety of factors, including existing agreements and public safety.”
Global News reached out to Bankas’ team for comment but did not receive a response.
For now, the nearly sold-out show is still expected to go ahead.
Don’t be pulling his plug in public
Lmfoa🤣F U GLOBAL PROPAGANDA NEWS… we only watch to mock you!
I wish there was a show closer to me so I could attend this guy’s hilarious and honestly saying what alot of us are already thinking
Their lack of self awareness is stunning. Freedom goes both ways fascists.
Seriously!? He’s a stand up comedian, if you don’t like him, don’t go, bunch of Karens.
It’s just joke you loser Karen’s
It’s stand up … if you don’t like his comedy it’s easy don’t purchase a ticket This whole cancel culture easily offended part of society is one of weakness. It’s also sad that the people advocating for censorship don’t understand what they are asking for
Prospera place claiming they are listening to feedback is bull, they clearly are not. They are promoting hate speech and profiting off of it. Anyone who thinks this man is funny should take a good long look in the mirror. Its disgusting.
If you don’t like it, don’t go. What a bunch of pussies
Kelowna is full of people who think like this loser
You realize you have the right to not watch his stand up? Why do you butt hurt liberal cry babies always have to try to cancel everything you dont like? This is why he exists, to spite stupid people like you, who cant handle just calmly disagreeing and going about your pathetic lives.
Yes, comments by anyone that a death of a protester is good, is in very bad taste.
However who cares what the ‘shame’ (alphabet soup) club think.
If you do not like his show, then vote with your wallet and do not go to the show. Only an empty room tells the performer how bad he/she is.
Good! If you enjoy his comedy go and if you don’t nobody’s forcing you!
“Freedom of Expression within the bounds of the law”
Sounds “1984ish”.