TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
June 11 , 2024
PORTERVILLE, CA - Tensions in the Middle East spilled over into the comedy world last night when popular comedian George Lopez abruptly ended his stand-up routine at the Eagle Mountain Casino to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Lopez, who is of Mexican-American descent, was about 45 minutes into his set when he stopped telling jokes and launched into an impassioned speech criticizing Israel's ongoing offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"I can't just go up there and pretend like nothing is happening with all the violence and killing of innocent people," Lopez told the stunned audience at the casino in Porterville. "As a human being, I have to use my voice and take a stand against this injustice."
The 62-year-old comedian then walked off stage, leaving thousands of fans confused and angered that the show was cut short. Many began booing and demanding refunds before casino staff came out to announce the show was over due to the "unforeseen circumstances."
Lopez's abrupt exit drew swift condemnation from pro-Israel groups who accused him of spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric and promoting the Palestinian cause. The Israeli-American Council issued a statement saying it was "deeply disappointed that a celebrated comedian would exploit his platform to spew hateful propaganda."
However, Palestinian rights advocates praised Lopez for using his high-profile position to draw attention to the conflict and suffering of civilians in Gaza. The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights said the comedian's actions were "a powerful act of solidarity with the Palestinian people."
This is not the first time Lopez has waded into international politics from the stage. In 2018, he was briefly detained for disrupting a performance in Mexico by making jokes critical of the country's president at the time.
Representatives for Lopez did not respond to requests for comment on his motivations for the protest. It remains unclear if he plans to resume the remaining dates of his nationwide comedy tour, which is scheduled to run through the end of August.
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