Comedian George Lopez walked off stage Friday night at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California, after a heckler interrupted his show.
However, in a turn of events that some found surprising, Lopez faced criticism on social media from not only his disappointed fans, but also the venue he appeared at.
The Eagle Mountain Casino posted early Saturday morning that Lopez “let down his fans and sold out audience by walking out and ending his show 30 minutes early.”
A screen shot of a statement from Eagle Mountain Casino posted to Facebook early on June 8, 2024. (Eagle Mountain Casino / Facebook screen shot)
The casino said that Lopez could have waited for its security to deal with any hecklers, “since his own private security did not,” but instead left the stage.
“We never want to let our guests down and we are as disappointed and shocked as you are,” the casino claimed.
Comments on the post were mostly supportive of the casino’s position.
TMZ reported on Saturday that most of the audience didn’t seem to have noticed the heckling, presumably because it was coming from an audience member close to the stage.
Video clips of the departing audience viewed by TMZ on social media outlets “mainly show people milling about confused and angry as they head to the exits,” the outlet reported.
Should George Lopez have continued with his performance?
Yes: 86% (711 Votes)
No: 14% (113 Votes)
Several hours after TMZ’s initial report, a representative of Lopez reached out with a comment blaming the casino.
“It’s the venue or casino’s job to provide a good experience for both the artist and the fans, but the casino failed in this regard,” the statement said, according to TMZ. “The audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests.”
“George’s personal security team worked with the venue security staff to maintain order, ensure safety, and eject disruptive individuals. Unfortunately, the casino security team was not adequate to accomplish this task. George is not obligated to perform in an unsafe environment.
“He feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result,” the statement concluded.
On Sunday, TMZ issued a follow-up report that included video of Lopez expressing his frustration to his audience and warning them of consequences.
During his routine, after an audience member said something “upset” the comedian, who, according to the outlet was “clearly trying to get through his set.”
“That’s one,” Lopez said in response.
Then it happened again, and he said, “That’s two.”
Shortly thereafter, a woman in the audience asked if she could buy Lopez a drink, and he said he was going to stop if they wouldn’t quiet down.
They protested when he told them to sit quietly, and then they began to boo. At that point, Lopez left the stage.
Watch the video below for yourself and decide whether you think Lopez was right or wrong.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language that some viewers may find offensive.
Late Sunday, Eagle Mountain Casino issued an official statement about the incident, claiming Lopez’s version of events was “not consistent with casino footage and surveillance.”
The casino also offered to reimburse attendees for the cost of their tickets.
A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:
“We don’t even know if an election will be held in 2024.” Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them.
Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal.
And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that’s exactly what will happen — no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people.
The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can’t do it alone.
We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.
But Big Tech’s stranglehold is now so tight that without help from you, we will not be able to continue the fight.
The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we’ll lose it for good. Can we count on you to help?
With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed trStephen A. Smith Lights Up Analyst Over WNBA Delusion, Caitlin Clark Jealousy – ‘Who Talks About the WNBA?!’uth to millions of Americans.
We can do this only with your help. Please don’t wait one minute. Donate right now.
George Upper is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Western Journal and was a weekly co-host of “WJ Live,” powered by The Western Journal. He is currently a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. A former U.S. Army special operator, teacher and consultant, he is a lifetime member of the NRA and an active volunteer leader in his church. Born in Foxborough, Massachusetts, he has lived most of his life in central North Carolina.
George Upper, is the former editor-in-chief of The Western Journal and is now a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. He currently serves as the connections pastor at Awestruck Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a former U.S. Army special operator, teacher, manager and consultant. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from Foxborough High School before joining the Army and spending most of the next three years at Fort Bragg. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English as well as a Master’s in Business Administration, all from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He and his wife life only a short drive from his three children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and in his spare time he shoots, reads a lot of Lawrence Block and John D. MacDonald, and watches Bruce Campbell movies. He is a fan of individual freedom, Tommy Bahama, fine-point G-2 pens and the Oxford comma.
