George Lopez allegedly cut his sold-out show short and walked out on the audience Friday over heckling crowd members as the venue slammed the comedian for letting his fans down.
The 63-year-old comedian left his gig at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, Calif. roughly 30 minutes before his set was scheduled to end.
“Tonight George Lopez let down his fans and sold out audience by walking out and ending his show 30 minutes early,” the casino said in a Facebook post.
The venue, which holds 2,000 people, revealed Lopez had hired his private security team who could’ve “easily escorted any hecklers out.”
A pre-show meeting had also been reportedly held to form a plan in case hecklers did manage to interrupt the show.
“He could have provided us an opportunity to allow our security and team to escort any hecklers out since his own private security did not,” the casino said. “George decided to not continue with the show and leave.”
Fans on social media confirmed the person who interrupted the show wasn’t a heckler, but instead people showing the “Blue Beetle” actor support.
“It was not like he had 100 people heckling him,” one person claimed on Facebook. “Maybe like 4. All it was was people yelling we love you and making references to old jokes. Nothing bad in my opinion happen tonight for George Lopez to walk out!!”
“‘Can I buy you a drink’ is all she said to you,” one user commented under a post from Lopez on X.
This is the second time Lopez has disappointed his fans, who paid at least $65, at the Eagle Mountain Casino.
Lopez was forced to cancel his show at the venue on April 20 due to a medical emergency, which set up Friday night as the rain date.
“Soo disappointed we drove an hour and a half to see him twice now…. really a let down,” one fan said.
“He never wanted to be here to begin with and it showed. Sad little man. That’s why he’s divorced.”
Fans weren’t the only ones let down by Lopez as employees at the casino also shared their frustration with the fiasco.
“Took my facilities team and I, 3 days midnight to 8 am (twice) to set up the event center for that dude. And both times he bailed on us and our casino,” the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor for the casino commented. “I hope we never bring him back.”
Others gave suggestions of acts the casino should have brought in to replace Lopez.
“Next time invite fluffy,” one person said, referring to Gabriel Iglesias.
“Should’ve had (comedian) Ralph Barbosa,” another commented.
The abrupt exit left venue officials with a bad taste as they say they had gone “above and beyond” to provide the comedian with first-class service since his arrival.
Lopez has since fired back at the casino.
“It’s the venue or casino’s job to provide a good experience for both the artist and the fans, but the casino failed in this regard. The audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests,” a spokesperson for Lopez told TMZ.
“George’s personal security team worked with the venue security staff to maintain order, ensure safety, and eject disruptive individuals. Unfortunately, the casino security team was not adequate to accomplish this task. George is not obligated to perform in an unsafe environment. He feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result.”
In December, David Chappelle stormed off the stage during his gig at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida after catching a fan using his cell phone.
Chappelle, who was in the middle of his second of five nights performing at the 7,000-seat venue, pointed the fan out to security before scolding the audience and walking off the stage, shaking his head in disappointment, according to the Miami Herald.
