A string of venues have cancelled shows with comedian Andrew Lawrence after he made racist ‘jokes’ on Twitter about England’s football stars.
The comedian faced widespread condemnation after making the comments in the aftermath of England’s heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy last night.
In one comment the 41-year-old, who has previously featured on the BBC, said he was ‘sorry that black guys are bad at penalties’.
And in reference to the anti-poverty campaigning of Marcus Rashford – one of those to miss a penalty last night – he said he’d: ‘Rather he’d (Rashford) practised his penalties and the kids had gone hungry.’
Today, following a backlash on Twitter, venues have begun pulling planned shows with the comedian.
Meanwhile, Lawrence’s agents also revealed they had cut ties with the comedian.
A string of venues have today cancelled shows with comedian Andrew Lawrence (pictured) after he made racist ‘jokes’ on Twitter about England’s football stars
In a post on Twitter, RBM Comedy – which represents high profile stars including Miles Jupp and Hugh Dennis – said: ‘RBM no longer represent Andrew Lawrence.’
Today Chesham Comedy Club in Buckinhamshire revealed it was pulling out of a show with Lawrence planned later this year.
Responding to the post on his now deleted Twitter account, Lawrence said: ‘I know you won’t particularly care, but we at Chesham Comedy Club will not tolerate racism in any form so please consider your booking with us cancelled.’
Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Hampshire also revealed it had pulled a gig with Lawrence, which was due to take place in January next year.
In a post on Twitter, the venue, in Totton, near Southampton, said: ‘Following the racist comments made by comedian Andrew Lawrence on Twitter we made the decision to cancel his show.
‘As part of a learning disability charity Minstead Trust, we work hard to promote inclusivity, provide safe spaces for everyone and have zero tolerance for racism.’
The Concorde Club in nearby Eastleigh also pulled a gig with Lawrence, saying: ‘Following his comments on the Football last night we have taken the decision to cancel Andrew Lawrences appearance at The Concorde in January.
‘We completely condemn the ‘tweets’ and his views do not reflect our organisation so as a result we cant go ahead with his performance.
‘Together we must fight against racism. All ticketholders will be contacted over the next week.’
Worcester’s Huntingdon Hall, Rosehill Theatre in Cumbria and Scallywags Comedy Club in Gloucestershire have also cancelled dates on Lawrence’s forthcoming tour.
It comes after Lawrence made a series of posts after England’s Euro 2020 defeat against Italy at Wembley last night.
In one post, he said: ”Equality, diversity, shit penalties. He followed up with: ‘All I’m saying is, the white guys scored.’
After receiving a backlash for the comments, he then doubled-down, adding: ‘I can see that this has offended a lot of people, and I’m sorry that black guys are bad at penalties.’
Lawrence later took a swipe at Rashford’s campaigning to encourage the Government to continue giving out free school meal vouchers during the pandemic.
The 22-year-old Manchester United striker was awarded an MBE in October last year for his efforts.
But Lawrence wrote: ‘I’d rather he practised his penalties and the kids go hungry.’
Surrey-born Lawrence rose to comedy fame in 2003 after finishing runner-up in the Edinburgh Fringe’s So You Think You’re Funny competition.
He followed-up by scooping top prize in the 2004 BBC New Act of the Year Competition.
Lawrence has written and performed four series for BBC Radio 4, including the 2015 sitcom There Is No Escape.
A year earlier, in 2014, he raised eye-brows with a Facebook rant attacking comedians who made ‘cheap gags’ about UKIP, before turning on Mock the Week, which he described as a ‘liberal back-slapping panel’.
He later hit back at those describing him as a ‘right-wing comedian’, saying he didn’t subscribe to any political ideology’.
But he said he was critical of ‘left-wing hysteria on the internet, and the left-wing establishment in comedy’.
It comes as Harry Kane tonight sent a clear message to those behind the vile racist abuse of England stars in the wake of last night’s heartbreaking Euro 2020 final defeat by saying: ‘We don’t want you.’
The England skipper condemned the abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka as ‘vile’, adding that the players, who were seen visibly distraught after missing penalties in the shoot-out defeat to Italy, ‘deserve support and backing’.
Harry Kane tonight sent a clear message to those behind the vile racist abuse of England stars in the wake of last night’s heartbreaking Euro 2020 final defeat by saying ‘we don’t want you’
Gareth Southgate said: ‘It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light’ as he was quizzed on the abuse
And in a stinging message, he called out those behind the messages, saying they were ‘not England fans’.
In a strongly-worded post on Twitter, the striker said: ‘Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high.
‘They deserve support and backing not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.’
It comes as England manager Gareth Southgate this morning savaged the abuse of his players as ‘unforgivable’ after they were trolled by racists overnight.
He blasted mindless social media morons who bombarded Saka, Rashford and Sancho with vile slurs after the heartbreaking defeat at Wembley last night.
The England boss hit out after Prince William and the Prime Minister branded the abuse unacceptable and sickening after the defeat.