Michelle Shocked‘s Portland show, scheduled for April 25 at the Alberta Rose Theatre, has been cancelled. This comes after the report that the singer/songwriter made anti-gay remarks during her San Francisco show last night (Shocked really knows her market), as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle:
At Yoshi’s San Francisco on Sunday night, singer Michelle Shocked pretty much shocked her audience by saying, among other things, “God hates fags and you can tweet that I said so.” This came about halfway through the show, in the middle of a rant against gay marriage, tweeted James Patterson, who was at the show. Something like two-thirds of the crowd walked out.
Shocked, who has perhaps identified as gay in the past (source), is allegedly a born-again Christian now and also reportedly said, “I live in fear that the world will be destroyed if gays are allowed to marry.” Further info about the incident is at the Bay Area Reporter.
Earlier this afternoon, the Alberta Rose Theatre announced the Shocked date was not happening, stating on Facebook: “Michelle Shocked concert on April 25th has been CANCELED! Thank you for your feedback & support.” I’ve asked the Alberta Rose if there is an official statement about the show’s cancellation and will update if I hear back.
UPDATE: Statement from Alberta Rose owner Joe Cawley:
We are deeply saddened by today’s news regarding Michelle Shocked, but our decision to cancel her show was an easy one to make. We are in the planning stages of turning this unfortunate situation into something useful and positive for our community. Please stay tuned for a special benefit concert for Basic Rights Oregon on April 25th at The Alberta Rose Theatre.
Never heard of a Michelle Shocked in my life, but thanks for giving her some free publicity!
WHO! Also, God is fake.
Well, I always thought she sucked anyway.
Does your parents’ basement even have a periscope, arenit?
I am generally bugged by performers who have to tell me they are “shocking” or “intense” or “in-my-face.” If you are, we’ll pick up on it. No need to put it in your name and take photos of you yelling in a fedora.
Oh, homophobes bug me too.
Well, at least she’ll always have a place at RNC events.
“I live in fear that the world will be destroyed if gays are allowed to marry.”
I love this. Is she trolling? If she isn’t, it’s highly revelatory of the reactionary conservative mindset. They live in constant fear. They lived in constant fear of slaves, then of blacks after emancipation, then of women when they started demanding the vote, of anything the slightest bit unlike them. When gay marriage is accepted and the world doesn’t end, yet again, they’ll have something else to live in constant fear of.
Also, what blabby said.
I guess that being singer is no guarantee that you’re not a moron. On the other hand, being religious does guarantee that you are.
How’s that marketplace of ideas working out for ya, Michelle?
I am happy that Alberta Rose Theater responded so nicely.
Exactly, Karen. Good for them, good for BRO. Actually, it seems like every time some idiot talks shit, things get better because everyone has to confront how shitty and stupid their opinions sound in this day and age.