Beverly Hills theater apologizes after canceling Israeli comedian for refusing to vilify his country

A California theater was forced to apologize after it canceled an Israeli comedian’s scheduled performance — because he refused to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Israeli comedian Guy Hochman was scheduled to perform in the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills but was canceled for his refusal to condemn Israel over the war with Hamas. Getty Images

Guy Hochman’s show was abruptly pulled from the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills over the weekend when he failed to issue a public statement denying that he supports the “genocide, rape, starvation, and torture of Palestinian civilians,” according to i24 News.

But the venue then quickly pivoted, and issued an apology for proposing a “litmus test.”

Following Hochman’s cancelation, the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills quickly pivoted and issued an apology. Fine Arts Beverly Hills Theatre

“While I do not necessarily agree with the viewpoints of every performer who appears at the theater, it was wrong to ask any artist to make a political or ideological statements as a condition of appearing,” Michael Hall, the theater’s president said in a statement shared to X.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Hochman is no stranger to controversy.

Protesters have frequently descended on his shows during his North American tour, and an appearance in New York was canceled due to safety concerns, according to The Hollywood Reporter.