Safety and Anti-Harassment Comedians’ Charter Launched at Edinburgh Fringe

variety.com:

K.J. Yossman British performing arts union Equity have launched a Comedians’ Charter at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.The charter details a range of policies that aim to improve the lives of comedians, who are increasingly suffering harassment and abuse during performances.Most famously, Chris Rock (pictured above) was slapped by Will Smith during the Oscars ceremony in March.

In May, Dave Chappelle was also assaulted on stage.Writing in the Guardian in April, British comedian Dani Johns wrote there had been a marked deterioration in audience behavior during gigs. “Since we’ve come back after lockdown, it’s become increasingly apparent that a small but noticeable percentage of audience members have forgotten how to behave in public,” she wrote, detailing an incident in which a man jumped out of the audience and grabbed her top.

The charter calls on venues to implement a set of standards including:The charter was launched at comedy venue The Stand in Edinburgh on Sunday and is part of a push by Equity to unionize comedians.“Equity members working as comedians put together this charter through our Comedians’ Network, and we’re delighted that The Stand have agreed to become the first U.K.

venue to sign up to it,” Rob Lugg, Equity’s organiser for comedians, said in a statement. “In the months ahead, we’ll be reaching out to venues and promoters across the country and seeking to work with them to make the Charter the industry standard.