In the latest incident surrounding George Lopez’s walkout during a performance at a Central California casino this weekend, the venue is critical of the strip for what they say was an overreaction to some rowdy attendees and a lack of communication.
The veteran comedian, 63, left early from his Friday show at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California, after repeatedly telling people in the audience to be quiet during his set.
Lopez was seen on video from the show clearly annoyed by a group of attendees who continuously shouted from the audience, warning that he would leave the stage if the interruptions continued.
“I mean it, I look like an asshole, I’m the one who works!” Lopez said. “Come on, please, just fucking watch the show, that’s all you have to do, don’t even laugh if you don’t want to, I don’t care** *. Just relax, dammit.”
After the crowd’s booing continued, Lopez said he was “out of here,” giving the crowd a brief wave before leaving the stage to boos.
Central California casino George Lopez, 63, walked out during a performance this weekend and is defending the actions it took in the incident, and is critical of the comic for what they say was an overreaction to a few troublemakers . Lopez pictured in Texas in January
Representatives from the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California said they were willing to help Lopez with any requests he had, but he never communicated to them about any issues before abandoning his performance at their sold-out venue.
Representatives of the Los Angeles resident subsequently said this TMZ Saturday that casino officials had “failed” to “provide a good experience for both the artist and fans” during Friday’s show.
The representatives of the Lopez vs. Lopez stars said Friday that “the audience was over-served and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide the performer and guests with a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Lopez’s representatives said the strip’s “personal security team worked with venue security personnel to maintain order, ensure safety and eject disruptive individuals,” but “the casino security team was not sufficient to accomplish this task .’
The comic’s representatives said the entertainer had the right to leave the performance at the sold-out venue because he is “not required to perform in an unsafe environment.”
Lopez “feels bad that those who came to watch the show were unable to do so as a result,” his reps told the outlet.
The venue said in a response to the outlet on Monday that Lopez’s team misrepresented several aspects of the situation.
“We do not consider unruly behavior and an unsafe environment as compliments shouted at George,” casino officials told the outlet on Monday. “We should have had the opportunity for his private security, the tour manager or George himself to let us know who they wanted to eject, and we would have done that.”
The casino’s marketing director, Joey Perez, released a statement obtained by Ny Breaking.com apologizing to attendees and giving them a refund and tickets to a future show at the venue during the rest of the year.
Lopez’s departure “came as a shock to everyone, including casino management,” casino officials said
Lopez “feels bad that those who came to watch the show were unable to do so,” reps for the entertainer said.
Lopez’s departure “came as a shock to everyone, including casino management,” said Perez, who said casino and surveillance footage refuted Lopez’s team’s “claims of unruly guests.”
Perez said security staff at the location “worked with” the strip’s security to ensure “there was no phone filming.”
Perez said Lopez’s private security team was required to “inform casino security if they wanted to escort anyone out, which never happened” and that “no guests” were observed by casino officials “acting unruly or creating an unsafe environment.”
He added, “Mr. Lopez or his private security had every opportunity to inform the casino team if they wanted a guest escorted out, but they didn’t want to. The two previous openers, also comedians, had no concerns or issues, so this was quite a shock to everyone in attendance.”
Perez said that after Lopez went back to his dressing room, neither he “nor his team offered an apology to the casino team or the guests, nor any explanation as to why” he left the stage.
Lopez “departed 15 minutes later and was transported back to the Porterville Airport by Eagle Mountain Casino transportation,” Perez said.
Perez noted that the casino had been helpful and understanding after Lopez canceled a show an hour before showtime last April 20 due to a health emergency.
“The casino acted as quickly as possible by rescheduling the show and accommodating guests in every way possible,” Perez said. “Now for the second time, the comedian is ensuring the casino receives guests again by refunding show tickets and doing everything he can to ensure guests know the casino values their business and wants to provide only a positive experience during their visit.’
The venue said Monday that Lopez’s team misrepresented several aspects of the situation. Lopez was shooting in LA last month
Perez noted how the casino had been supportive and understanding after Lopez canceled an April 20 show an hour before showtime due to a health emergency.
Tiffani Sahagun, the venue’s assistant general manager, said people shouting on stage said positive messages to Lopez, such as “We love you” and “Can we buy you a drink?”
Sahagun added: “We also know that during a comedy show there are also likely to be some outbursts that casino security would have happily addressed if an issue had been disclosed.
“We just want our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we want our entertainers to feel safe and enjoy coming to Porterville as well.”