Originally posted Wednesday, February 26, 2020 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Comic Jim Gossett on the new 102.1/1010 talk station last week said his show at the Swan Coach House at the Atlanta History Center had cancelled his show despite the fact it was almost sold out.
Gossett, who works with both Mike Brooks and Kim "The Kimmer" Peterson, was told the Forward Arts Foundation, which runs the Swan Coach House, had chosen to cut his show because someone had complained about his conservative politics.
“I’m assuming it’s political content or something to do with the radio but I do not know,” Gossett said on air last week with the Brooks show.
Gossett said in a text he was flummoxed because he had done 20 shows there since 2015 with no complaints. The restaurant holds about 100 patrons.
"We are aware that the recent event cancellation has brought disappointment to patrons planning to attend," said Caroline Spangenberg, chairwoman of Foward Arts Foundation in an email. "To be clear, this was not 'because someone important complained about his politic'" but rather a business decision made by restaurant management. After deliberation, we determined due to financial and marketing reasons, to cancel the show."
She added: “We recognize and apologize for the inconvenience to patrons planning to attend Mr. Gossett’s comedy show. The Swan Coach House strives to offer space for events that are welcoming to and enjoyable for all patrons, and we greatly appreciate all of those who continue to join us in supporting the visual arts.”
The Kimmer wasn’t impressed with this response: “This is nonsense. This is a perfect example of cancel culture. If they don’t want to hear it, they cancel it. Who cares if people pay tickets to see a conservative comic?”
Gossett's Newsmaker Line has been a staple of the Kimmer's show for years on WGST, Talk 106.7 and the current station. Gossett plays everyone from Charlton Heston to Ronald Reagan to Charles Barkley while cracking jokes. (Gossett has made fun of me, too.)
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