It’s got to be hard to be a comedian these days. Heck, it’s even hard being a smart ass that likes to tell off color jokes to his work associates. You literally have to scope out who is within earshot, gauge your prospective audience, and even then, it’s probably best to just walk away.
It’s true; comedy is under fire in America. However, this time I’m not talking about what you think I am. No one is butt hurt (yet) today over a Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle joke.
No, at one Charlotte, North Carolina club, comedy was LITERALLY under fire. Let’s check with the Charlotte observer for the not so funny details:
A man is in custody after firing a gun inside The Comedy Zone near uptown on Saturday night where a star of the TV show “The Office” was set to perform. Around 9 p.m., a suspect brandished a firearm as he entered the venue in the 900 block of NC Music Factory Boulevard, CMPD said on Twitter. Actor and comedian Craig Robinson, who has appeared on television and movies including “Hot Tub Time Machine” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” was scheduled to appear at the club Saturday night at 9:45 as part of a multi-night gig. The show was sold-out, according to the club’s website.
Craig Robinson, better known as warehouse manager Darryl from the hit show “The Office” was scheduled to perform and was luckily unharmed as was everyone else.
This is why Darryl needs to take Dwight on tour with him. Dwight Schrute would’ve disarmed the shooter with his martial arts skills. Just a thought moving forward for Robinson.
It’s not known exactly what the shooters motivation was, but interestingly he ran everyone out of the club BEFORE discharging his firearm. Weird.
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Employees told Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC that the man demanded that everyone leave the building in the AvidXchange Music Factory as he was waving his gun. About 50 people were inside, the station reported, and dozens more were outside.
The club was evacuated before the suspect fired the gun, police said. No one was injured.
The shooting comes days after CMPD reported overall crime in Charlotte has increased 4.3% this year compared with the first half of 2021. Violent crime is up 3%, police said Thursday.
It’s not coincidental that Charlotte has a Democrat mayor and is experiencing a spike in violent crime.
Vi Lyles has been the Mayor since December of 2017. Charlotte has another Mayoral race in 2022 and hopefully the city swings back red.
It will be interesting to follow the story and see exactly what the shooters motivation was. Clearly, he wasn’t looking to kill anyone, including Craig Robinson.
Craig Robinson act canceled after gunman opens fire in Charlotte comedy club https://t.co/fFALEnyVEp pic.twitter.com/muwgmnl3mE
— New York Post (@nypost) July 17, 2022
The fact that the alleged shooter evacuated people from the building before shooting is telling of his motivations. Just speculation, but perhaps suicide by police could be one possibility. On a side note, if Robinson is playing to 50 people, maybe comedy isn’t his strong suit?
Robinson posted a five-minute Instagram live video after the incident. In the video, he said police evacuated those at the club to a nearby Big-Time Rush concert at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre. “There was an active shooter in the comedy club, so they moved us over to this concert,” he said.
On another side note, if you are of a certain age and have kids, you know who Big Time Rush is. I would’ve almost preferred to take my chances with the shooter, but that’s neither here nor there.
Kudos to the staff at the club and the Charlotte Police Department for handling the entire incident smoothly and professionally.
As for Craig Robinson, considering the current political climate in regard to comedy, maybe he should try to get his job at Dunder Mifflin back. Stay safe Darryl!