Conservative talking head and Baltimore agitator Tucker Carlson’s early October appearance at the Modell Lyric has been called off.
Ticketmaster, which was selling tickets for “Tucker Carlson Live” since June, with admission starting at $70, now lists the Oct. 5 event as “cancelled” on its website. A notice says those who paid by web and phone will be refunded immediately. People who bought tickets in-person will need to return to the box office.
A spokesperson for the Modell Lyric, located at 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave., said it was Carlson’s camp who nixed the affair. A statement from them said it was “cancelled [sic.] due to a scheduling conflict. Refunds will be made at point of purchase. We apologize for any inconvenience, thank you.”
One Twitter pointed out about two weeks ago that ticket sales weren’t so hot. An Aug. 30 screengrab from Ticketmaster’s page shows most of the seats in the venue were still available.
Ticket sales for Tucker Carlson’s October talk in Baltimore don’t seem to be going very well… pic.twitter.com/c56iCVQRq7
— Meatpacking Plant Accountant (@FoxForceFlacco) August 30, 2019
The group Boycott Racism in Baltimore City hailed the cancellation in a Facebook post last night.
A June announcement about the appearance advertised Carlson as someone who offers “powerful analysis and spirited debates with guests from across the political and cultural spectrum,” and challenges “political correctness and media bias.”
Carlson’s programming regularly touts anti-immigrant, Islamophobic and transphobic views or gives a platform to those with such agendas. He made headlines recently for saying on his show that white supremacy is nothing more than a “hoax,” prompting an exodus of advertisers.
More recently of local interest, he’s sparred with lawmakers he invited to be on his show, including Councilmembers Zeke Cohen and Robert Stokes and Del. Curt Anderson. In February, he hosted a Baltimore lesbian activist who was removed from a mayoral LGBTQ commission for saying she doesn’t believe transgender women are really women. Carlson told her “I couldn’t agree with you more, and I’m grateful you have that attitude.”
An appearance of his at The Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 12 has also been nixed.
This story has been updated.
“He” pulled out because of a “schedule conflict?”
Ha! As if!
Multiple calls to the Lyric box office protesting his appearance was more likely the cause.
One of those calls was mine.
Boycott racism is the definition of today’s racism.
I believe Mr. Carlson has a problem with immigrants who have jumped the line and are in our country illegally. And isn’t calling a box office or other performance outlet to protest a person appearing there,just another form of censorship? I would hope that we in Baltimore are open to other points of view.
What are you blabbing about? “boycott racism is the definition of today’s racism.”…..WHAT?!?!
What about The First Amendment?
I was greatly disappointed as I was looking forward to seeing & hearing him speak. I seriously hope the cancellation wasn’t due to ticket sales.