Yahoo News George Lopez In War Of Words After Early Departure From Casino Gig; Casino Issues Apology & Free Tickets – Update
UPDATED, 7:50 AM: The Eagle Mountain Casino has issued an apology and is offering free tickets after George Lopez left his gig early Friday due to hecklers.
In a statement, the casino in Porterville, CA said it “apologizes for the recent experience during the George Lopez show and is offering all attendees a full reimbursement and free tickets to any 2024 show at Eagle Mountain (tickets of same or lesser value).”
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Also in the statement, the casino says “Lopez’s statement providing reason for exiting the show abruptly after not saying anything to casino management or security, came as a shock to everyone including casino management.”
“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,” spokesperson for Lopez earlier told TMZ. “The audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests.”
The casino denies that guests were unruly. “The claims of unruly guests are not consistent with casino footage and surveillance,’ the casino’s statement said. “Casino security and Lopez security team worked together to make sure there was no filming with phones as requested by Lopez. It was the job of Lopez private security team to inform casino security if they wanted to escort anyone out which never occurred. Under the casinos discretion no guests were unruly or providing an unsafe environment.”
The statement continued: “Once Lopez walked to his dressing room, he nor his team offered an apology to the casino team or guests nor any explanation as to why Mr. Lopez did not want to continue and left 15 minutes later and was transported back to Porterville airport by Eagle Mountain Casino transportation.”
Casino management says his walkout came as a shock considering the two comedians who opened before him did not express any concerns or issues.
“While we did see guests yelling out, we see recordings showing those saying – we love you, can we buy you a drink, etc. We also know that at a comedy show, there are also likely some outbursts that casino security would have been happy to address had any issue been made known. We only want for our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we want our entertainers to feel safe and enjoy coming to Porterville as well,” said. Assistant General Manager Tiffani Sahagun.
“Mr. Lopez or his private security had every opportunity to inform casino team if they wanted a guest escorted out and they did not,” the statement said.
The casino noted that Lopez had prevously canceled an appearance in April due to a health emergency, and that they supported the comedian and wished him well, rescheduling the show to June 7 and “accommodating guests any way they could.”
“Now, for a second time, the comedian is causing the casino to once again accommodate guests by reimbursing show tickets and going above and beyond to ensure guests know the casino values their business and only wants to provide a positive experience while visiting,” the casino statement said.
PREVIOUS, June 9: George Lopez cut his sold-out show short at a California casino on Friday, and now is trading accusations with the venue over hecklers.
The New York Post reports the 63-year-old comedian left his gig at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California about 30 minutes early.
Lopez’s team 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.”
The casino had a different take.
“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 claimed Lopez’s private security team could’ve “easily escorted any hecklers out.”
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