Comedian Kate Smurthwaite has had her scheduled performance at Goldsmiths College tonight cancelled after security officials said they could not guarantee the safety of students.
In a statement issued by the comedian, Smurthwaite says the issue arose from a group of students who objected to her support for the Nordic Model on prostitution. This arrangement, currently in place in Sweden and Norway, decriminalises those who sell sex and criminalises the purchase of sex. The students from the college’s Feminist Society (FemSoc) support legalisation of the sex industry and for this reason threatened to picket the event causing security to pull the plug.
Smurthwaite adds that “the strangest thing is that my show is not about prostitution. I don’t even mention it. In a massively ironic coincidence my show is about free speech, it’s power and uses and abuses. It is also about Saudi prisoner of conscience Raif Badawi who is now being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
“I find it very strange that anyone would feel they couldn’t enjoy a comedy show unless they agreed with 100% of the political views of the person performing. Goldsmiths have recently hosted Phil Kay and Rob Beckett - did anyone ask them what they think about fox hunting or all-female shortlists?”
Goldsmiths Feminist Society initially held a vote on whether they should support the appearance with 70% voting in favour of the show going ahead. However the losing minority announced they were going to form a picket line anyway and used Twitter to invite others from around the UK to join.
In a message from the organiser at Goldsmiths Comedy Society, who arranged the show, Smurthwaite says she was told “I asked you because I obviously admire you and enjoy your politics and comedy, but I have already had aggressive messages from the FemSoc and meeting with their 'leader' about it all.”
The show was a final London performance of the Edinburgh Fringe show Leftie Cock Womble. Tickets had been on sale for several weeks. At the time of writing this was still listed as going ahead on the Goldsmiths website but according to Smurthwaite this is no longer the case.
Following coverage of this issue on social media, dubbed #Smurthgate, Kate Smurthwaite offered a fuller version of events leading up to the cancellation. Click here for more.
