British comedian Andrew Lawrence has been dropped by multiple venues across the United Kingdom after making a controversial social media post referencing the recent vehicle collision at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade that left dozens injured.
Lawrence posted on X (formerly Twitter): “To be fair, if I was in Liverpool, I’d drive through crowds of people to get the f** out of there as well.”* The comment was widely condemned as “vile” and “cruel,” drawing thousands of critical responses and calls for the comedian to delete the post and issue an apology.
In the wake of the backlash, several comedy clubs and performance venues have severed ties with Lawrence. Caddies, a comedy venue in Essex where Lawrence was scheduled to perform on 15 June, announced the cancellation of the show, stating: “We do not condone or support the comment that has been made online, and we send everyone impacted by the tragic events in Liverpool our support and prayers.”
Lawrence responded defiantly, attributing the cancellation to what he described as pressure from “online trolls.” He vowed to reschedule the Southend show at a different location.
However, other comedy clubs were quick to follow suit. The Hot Water Comedy Club in Liverpool, one of the city’s most prominent venues, publicly denounced Lawrence’s comments in an Instagram statement, writing: “That’s not comedy. It’s cruelty, plain and simple.”
The club added: “We believe in the power of comedy to challenge, uplift and connect – not to target people in moments of real pain. His brand of cruelty has no place in the kind of comedy we stand for.” The statement concluded by urging others in the comedy circuit to reconsider supporting Lawrence: “If you’re standing by him, you’re standing against everything this industry should represent.”
The Comedy Store, which operates in London and Manchester, also confirmed that it has barred Lawrence from future performances and expressed solidarity with the people of Liverpool.
The backlash comes after a disturbing incident during Liverpool FC’s victory parade on Bank Holiday Monday, when a car plowed into crowds gathered on Water Street. Merseyside Police confirmed that 79 people were injured in the collision. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as fans scrambled to avoid the vehicle.
A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and drug driving. Authorities said detectives have been granted additional time to question the suspect as investigations continue.