Not everyone’s into vaccine mandates.
Case in point:
Add comedian Jim Breuer to that list.
If you’re unfamiliar with Jim, I highly recommend checking him out.
He gave quite a turn as Goat Boy on Saturday Night Live, and his AC/DC impression is spot-on:
In addition, his alcohol routine is legendary:
But perhaps best are his stories — about SNL, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, late (brilliant) comedian Norm Macdonald, and taking care of his sick father — found via interviews online (Language Warning for those links).
One narrative with which he isn’t okay, though, is the one saying all Americans must be forcibly vaccinated.
Hence, Jim’s drawn a line: He won’t do shows where proof of vaccination is required.
In fact, he’s canceled events where that was the case.
During a 22-minute Facebook Live video, the Half Baked star dropped science:
“Two quick updates on shows that you may think you may be getting tickets to, or you already have tickets to: The Wellmont Theater in New Jersey — not doing it.”
“Also,” he continued, “the Royal Oak Theater in Michigan. Due to the segregation of them forcing people to show up with vaccinations…I am absolutely not doing those shows.”
And he’s paying for his principles:
“I know I’m going to sacrifice a lot of money, but I’m not going to be enslaved by the system or by money. Nor should anyone that wants to laugh or be entertained. … I have to stick to my morals. I have to stick to what I know is right.”
As relayed by Fox News, the 54-year-old “believes that getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a ‘choice,’ and he feels his fans are being ‘forced’ into making that decision.”
He’ll be sticking to his guns:
“The last thing we need is segregation. … [I] will play back yards. I will play venues that [are] not run by a monopoly that is shutting down and forcing these venues to do it. I’d rather go bankrupt and make a [stand] and not segregate. … Life is good. God is good.”
Also not backing down: the Wellmont Theater.
General manager Anthony Morrison explained the venue is promoting protection:
“Our policy is put in place to protect the concertgoer, the artist and the employees of the theater alike. We wish Mr. Breuer well and hope to see him at the Wellmont Theater down the road.”
The COVID situation is curious.
Is a mandate necessary to inoculate America?
It seems to me the government could do far better in selling us on the shot.
Putting wholly aside the vaccine itself, purely in terms of messaging, one present marketing mess conveys a confounding combination of concepts:
- The vaccine absolutely works; therefore, you should get it.
- You must get it, in order to protect those who are vaccinated (because the vaccine doesn’t work).
Or perhaps I’ve misunderstood.
Either way, to be clear, I am in no way anti-vaccine; furthermore, I do not suggest anyone should forgo getting it.
As for making needling necessary in order to enjoy entertainment, Jim Breuer’s not the first standup to balk.
As covered by TheWrap, podcaster Joe Rogan told listeners in August such a requirement was attached to his upcoming New York City extravaganza:
“I have a problem, because I have a show there in Madison Square Garden in October, and I’ve already sold 13,000 tickets. And now they say that everybody has to be vaccinated, and I want everybody to know that you can get your money back.”
“If someone has an ideological or physiological reason for not getting vaccinated,” he said, “I don’t want to force them to get vaccinated to see a [flipping] stupid comedy show.”
Nor does Jim.
Where mandates are concerned, will more comedians…stand up?
Will all eventually give in?
Stay tuned to find out. The issue isn’t likely going anywhere:
BREAKING: LA County to Require Proof of Vaccine for Customers and Employees of Bars, Nightclubs, Sporting Events https://t.co/sspCw5RObs
— RedState (@RedState) September 15, 2021
Then again, there’s a slight ray of hope — I’ve heard we’ll only need to do this for 15 days:
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America: "15 Days to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)". Get more details at https://t.co/vHVXRepEEY. pic.twitter.com/PdKpYQHXJx
— K E N N E D A L E (@CityofKennedale) March 17, 2020
Fingers crossed.
-ALEX
See more pieces from me:
Another Fiery Year: Survey Reveals More Than 3 Million First-Time Gun Buyers as of Mid-2021
University Trains Orientation Leaders to See Students as ‘Agents of Oppression’ or ‘Targets’
Find all my RedState work here.
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