Comic Nick Swardson Promises to “Make It Up” to Fans After Being Pulled From Stage
Comic Nick Swardson is following up a disastrous performance in Colorado with a promise to “make it up” to the town where he was escorted from the stage 20 minutes into his stand-up set.
On Sunday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, an admittedly inebriated Swardson, 47, was removed from the stage to the sounds of an angry crowd booing him after he stammered through what appeared to be a nonsensical opening during his headlining appearance. On Tuesday, the Grandma’s Boy actor issued a statement about the incident.
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“Just casually woke up on TMZ,” he wrote on X, referencing the news website’s article about the tanked performance. “Travel tip: don’t drink and take edibles in high altitude. F—ing brain diarrhea. I’ll make it up to you Beaver Creek!”
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to representatives of Swardson for further comment on the incident, but did not immediately hear back on Tuesday.
In videos posted online, Swardson is seen on the Vilar Performing Arts Center stage attempting to get an impression of action star Jason Statham going. Instead, he kept repeating, “Here we go” and “Jason Statham as The Beekeeper” to an increasingly angry audience’s chagrin.
“You suck!” someone is heard shouting in the clip. “No!” several audience members angrily replied when the comic asked if they wanted him to finish his Statham bit.
The comic, who in addition to his stand-up is known for work in his friend Adam Sandler’s Hollywood comedies, including Grown Ups 2, Just Go With It and You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, was believed by one attendee to be “bombed out of his mind” during the performance; given the comic’s message on Monday, that fan seems to have been correct.
After Swardson was removed from the stage, a stage manager addressed the situation with the audience.
“We’ve decided to conclude the show early in the best interest of those who bought tickets,” he said. “We apologize for what you’ve seen tonight. Please email the box office. We’ll be responding to inquiries and processing credits and refunds.”
Swardson is scheduled for a performance this evening in Aspen, Colorado.
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