MONTREAL – Controversial French comic, Dieudonné M’bala M’bala, who was barred from entering Canada on Tuesday, says he will be performing in Montreal this upcoming Monday via video conference.
The sold-out series of Montreal shows were set to begin on Wednesday, but the comic was detained at Canadian Customs upon his arrival at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and sent back to Europe.
Dieudonné has been convicted of hate speech multiple times in Europe. His most recent conviction was in France, just a few hours before he landed in Montreal.
The comedian, who goes by the name Dieudonnée announced to fans via a Facebook post that he would broadcast his performance from France allowing the Wednesday show to go on as planned.
But a few hours later, the comic’s tour promoter, Gino Sainte-Marie, told The Canadian Press the video conference event had also been cancelled after Mayor Denis Coderre put pressure on the venue, something the mayor’s office vehemently denies.
Dieudonné once again took to Facebook Saturday, urging his fans to get reimbursed for the cancelled show and to buy new tickets for Monday’s event.
As to where the show can be viewed, that remains under wraps.
A link to the event states the location will only be divulged five hours before showtime to avoid “political pressures.”
*With files from the Canadian Press