A theatre has responded to accusations of “cancel culture” made by comedian Lee Hurst following a dispute over bookings.
Hurst, known for his role on the nineties comedy show They Think It’s All Over, claimed that The Alexander Centre in Faversham had “cancelled” his performance. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was informed there was no availability for his stand-up tour until next year, and later learned that the venue had outsourced comedy bookings for the entire year.
Hurst expressed frustration, stating he would not patronize the venue due to what he perceived as an exclusionary practice. He also suggested that the venue was avoiding directly stating he was “cancelled” to perpetuate the idea that cancel culture does not exist.
The Alexander Centre’s management responded to KentOnline, explaining that they simply do not have available dates this year or next. They clarified that the issue was due to a full schedule of comedy events, not related to Hurst’s opinions or views. They mentioned that Hurst would be welcome to book a date if one became available.
Hurst, who moved to Kent in 2015, has previously been a controversial figure, drawing criticism for his stance on various issues during the pandemic and making contentious remarks on social media. Despite his online controversies, Hurst has claimed to avoid rigid ideological positions and maintains a stance independent of left or right-wing affiliations.
