Guy Earle Stand Up Comic faces Human Rights Tribunal over Lesbians Complaint

From ClickToNews

1 Abstract
2 Details
3 UPDATES
4 Sources & External Links
5 Video

[edit] Abstract

The article below is written from a first hand account on the incident that occured at the Zesty's on Commerical Drive, in Vancouver BC, in the year 2007. The incident has made the news and propelled Guy Earle into the spot Light over comments he made to two Lesbians that came into the restuarant half way through the comedy show. They had been drinking prior to the coming into the show and after the whole incident decided to make a complaint over the issue. This has made the CBC news, and the Province paper of late but there is alot of information missing about this story. Here is a better look at the story and what went on and the misinformation you may have read over this issue. The truth is below, the fiction is what you have read so far. There maybe a video of part of this incident as well but that is not yet confirmed. There is only clips prior to this incident.

[edit] Details

June 26th, 2008
There is always two sides to the story and that is all you have heard/read and I for one one can tell you both parties are not exactly telling you how it is as I was standing right there from the time to girls sat down to the glass of water in the face. I have also read the complaint filed by the girls and I can say 100% that the facts they lay out in the letter are a complete lie, I was appalled at how much they made up in their statement in describing the events and making themselves look innocent in the ordeal but that was not the case. If any of you read their statement and you saw what I saw you would say this is not the truth. There was an exchange of verbal assaults between the two I can for one say that both were at fault for this as they continued to verbal talk back and forth for sometime. Guy Earle stated he had whisky that night but he did not buy that till the after show down the road, he usually had one or two beers at Zestys as that was what he got for free, he was not drunk, while the girls had been drinking a few drinks already if not more on the patio they seemed more impaired. Once the verbal conversation began both parties did not want to seem to quit bantering back and forth, in Guy's video he states what he said in joke format but it came out much slower and inbetween what she said. She was less a heckler but more of person who was not pleased with what he said at the beginning to start it off.

The incident started when the girls came into the place and they sat down right up front while Guy Earle was on stage doing some M/C work. He noticed the two girls kiss right in front of him. This did not please Guy Earle and he made a comment on them kissing in public and that he did not want to see that. The girls kissed again and then the battle began, and yes Guy Earle was verbally talking to them in a rough manner that did not please them. The initial comments which started it was when he stated he did not want to watch a couple of ugly lesbians kiss in front of him. The one girl and Guy then kept talking back and forth where it could then be considered heckling because both were engaged in a conversation that was only between them and not comedy. In reality is was more of both of them insulting each other after that because nobody wanted to shut up, so some insults flew by both parties. At no time did Guy Earle get physical or aggressive, at no time did he intimidate them beyond the verbal abuse of their lifestyle. This continued for maybe 3-5 minutes but that was it, they both said there insults back and forth and when Guy was done, he introduced the next comic for the stage. What then happened was Guy Earle walked off the stage and past their table where the girl, threw water in his face as he passed her table. Guy did not stop walking as he walked straight towards me wet all over and with a bewildered look. In his video he states he gave stopped gave her a look and then got spashed but in reality he did not stop and did not look at her at all as he walked straight towards me there was no stoppage on his part. At this time, a friend of mine Grant went and sat with the girls and I myself stood there for a few minutes before going outside. Guy went back to finish the show and after went to the table to apologize as Grant sat with the two girls. I did not see the rest of this incident but what was stated on his video was most likely what happened where he got frustrated and broke her sunglasses to end it. When I came back in they were far apart from each other and the girls never left their spot or complained of being afraid for their lives or acted as such, since Grant E was with them the whole time they remained their the night continously drinking.

Now I know a lot of you want to create a bigger story out of this but infact there is nothing you have read that is really the truth. I know how it started and I know that both were involved in talking back and forth, and even though Guy may have insulted their lifestyle and looks at the beginning to start it off the girl was also equally involved after the beginning of the Guy’s comments.

Here is where things different. Firstly none of you have read their statement of complaint and if you had and were me you would know it was all made up to make them look better and Guy to look worse. I can say that most of what they wrote was not how it happened, upto the point where they quote Grant E.’s comments. It was a fictional story about how innocent the were and went on to say Guy was very scary to them, this is not true because at no time did they seem scared or did they look around for help, in fact the one girl seemed to have no problem defending herself. They state that Guy was scary but Guy is over 6 feet tall, he is also very skinny and not intimidating at all. The girls wrote that they were scared for their lives, while from what I saw they had nothing to be scared about because Guy did not threaten them in anyway or move in anyway to suggest he was gonna physically assault them. They even state he came towards them after he got off stage and that she feared for her life and in her defense throw water on him as the only means to protect herself. This was a lie, Guy walked straight off stage towards me, and as he passed the table she throw water on him, at no time did Guy Earle stop walking and kept moving. The girls had been drinking and never acted scared and the only reason the water was thrown onto his face was because Guy was mean to her verbally on stage and she was upset over that. At no time was their lives in danger as they portray in their statement.

I know a lot of people want to think this is a lot more than, but it started with them kissing and Guy’s dislike for that behaviour while he was on stage and in front of him. Though, he may have called them ugly and insult her lifestyle display in public, she had no problem verbally bugging Guy back, to the point both could not stop insulting each other. The girls had been drinking and did take some verbal abuse but it was no more than that, she throw the water and did it again when he went to apologize. He broke the glasses out of frustration of that action and walked away from the incident.

I know what Guy said may have gone to far but the girl also kept on going with it and so the battle between the two began. The statement they then wrote was written definitely not what happened and if any of you have read you would know. Even though you may think Guy has went to far, lying to the Human Rights commission to make themselves look even better is not right. There were many comics at that night and all of them can attest to the falsehoods in the complaint if they were called to testify.

The sad thing that happened after this was the show was cancelled two weeks later because they came to protest and that I have on tape. Apparently the woman wanted an official apology from Guy Earle and replacing the glasses and if they did not get that they would pursue the issue further. There next step was to ban an independent comedy night even though Guy was not there, they still protested and caused the cancellation of an the comedy night, which is a shame because it was simple over one incident that the girls thought should be have been between the Guy and them. Instead, they caused the elimination of a comedy over there need to be heard, or as you can see overblowing an incident could have been resolved with an apology.

In the laws of the land it is illegal to make false statements and then try to make a case of it, I am not denying verbal abuses occurred that should not have been said by both parties but making up a story on what happened and submitting it to courts is wrong. The girls were drinking and their thoughts were impaired. There are over 8 comics that will attest to the ordeal and can confirm the complaint they submitted is not how it was. I write this to set the story straight. Yes you can’t verbal abuse the audience and not expect them to talk back, but you can not be kissing and making a scene while a show is ongoing and not expect something to be said. If they want to portray affection for each other they should not have done so in the private establishment where people may not want to see that, but they did and Guy did not approve.

The incident could have been kept to a minimum with an apology but when none came they wrote a fictional complaint and submitted it to the Human Rights Tribunal. They also caused the cancellation of a Comedy show by protesting it when it was not the comedy show or the bar but Guy himself. I think they should have realized it was the man not the bar or the show that was the problem and in their haste to get this out they caused more damage to those who had a place to practice their arts.

[edit] UPDATES

June 27th
The reviews are coming in on the two new sites and his youtube video and it is sad to see a story told so inaccurately and I am appalled that this is getting out of hand with assumption. What is written above is how it went down and not how the news media have written itg it. The one thing I need to add to the story is the first part of their complaint but as I said you need to read it to understand. In the beginning the girls describe how they were on the patio but owner said they needed to move inside if they wished to continue drinking as the patio was closing. I am not sure that was the case because it seemed earlier than that but if that is why they came inside then so be it. They did come in through the side door right by the stage, and then sat in the first booth, facing the stand up comic, Guy Earle on stage. He of coursed noticed them as this entry would have inturrpeted his M/C act and that they are a bit noisy as they get settled in. The show goes on and before you know it the girls kiss each other. Here is where Guy Earle commented onward. The girls mention they were not apart of the show nor did they know of the show and decided to come in and watch the show after talking to the owner. In their complaint the state this is how they got involved in the show, they did not willing go to the place to see the show, they were just a couple outside drinking for sometime enjoying the restuarant and outside atmosphere. They came in to continue drinking and did not expect a show but sat down anyways. This is how it all began, as most people think they came to see the comedy show and should expected to be heckled if they were heckling back. It would be wise to rethink you opinions when the truth is know. However, in the complaint there is many phallacies right at the beginning and this is what can not be used as part of the complaint but was and now misinformation is being portayed by the girls to the commission which is wrong. If they wrote the truth, and not a fictional story, they would have a case but probable due to their impairment they have a unfair recollection of events submitted to the Tribunal. They indeed need to know this before they make their decision as there was other witnesses to the occurance.