Comedian walks out on gig
‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Pete Davidson promises free show
BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport’s Stress Factory comedy club owner Vinnie Brand said he was caught by surprise when comic Pete Davidson left before his Monday night show.
Davidson claimed Brand made jokes about his love life, which Brand wholeheartedly denied.
Media reports began surfacing on Tuesday that 25-year-old Davidson, a stand-up comic and “Saturday Night Live” cast member, left the show, alleging that Brand came out before his set and said “don’t ask any questions about his exes Ariana Grande or Kate Beckinsale.”
Brand said he was completely blindsided by Davidson’s departure. He said he never intended the comments as a joke — he was just setting some ground rules per the request of his performer.
Brand said Davidson had a specific list of rules that he wanted followed, including that no one have cellphones out during his performance and that no one yell out anything about Davidson’s exes. Brand said he was happy to oblige.
“I’ve known Pete for a long time,” Brand said. “I love Pete. I don’t want any of this to come off like I don’t love Pete.”
Brand said his only intent was to reiterate the rules with patrons before Davidson hit the stage. He said he even cleared his comments with Davidson’s security team before going on.
“I was just laying down the rules,” he said.
However, after his talk, Brand went back to Davidson, who told Brand he had been “humiliated” by the comments, and that he was leaving. Brand said he begged Davidson not to leave and that the walkout could hurt the club. Davidson left anyway, and Brand had to go out and break the news to the crowd.