Batavia Comedy Club Drops Michael Rapaport Shows Over Safety Concerns

BATAVIA, IL — Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport's three days of shows at The Comedy Vault in downtown Batavia have been canceled over safety concerns, the club announced.

The comedian was scheduled for five shows between June 6 and 8. Rapaport, who is Jewish, has been an outspoken defender of Israel in its war against Hamas, prompting pro-Palestinian groups to promise protests if the shows weren't canceled, according to reports from the Daily Herald.

The owner of The Comedy Vault decided to cancel Rapaport's shows, not the city, despite police planning to provide additional patrols as needed, according to a report from WGN.

"Over the last two and a half years we have worked hard to curate a space that supports our vision of freedom of speech," The Comedy Vault staff said in a Friday night statement on Facebook. "We have always welcomed comedians from all walks of life and will continue to book talent regardless of their personal views."

The statement continued: "Given the escalating violent threats towards our staff and performer, including recent death threats, we have decided that we cannot, in good conscience, proceed with a show that poses such a significant safety risk to our staff, audience members, and the community as a whole."

The Batavia shows weren't Rapaport's first to be canceled. Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin, canceled his May 2 show due to "an anti-Israel 'mob,'" according to Fox News. In a post on X, the comedian called the cancellation "very very very F---ed Up!"

Rapaport is known for his roles in shows such as "Prison Break," "Friends" and "Atypical," as well as movies including "The Heat," "Higher Learning" and "True Romance."