Jewish actor Michael Rapaport comedy show in Alabama canceled over protest threats

Jewish actor Michael Rapaport’s comedy show in Birmingham, Alabama was abruptly canceled on Tuesday, with the actor informing fans of the cancellation only hours before the event was scheduled to begin.

Rapaport posted a message across multiple social media platforms, stating the show was canceled after “protests and threats over my support for Israel.” 

My show tonight at the Stardome in Alabama was CANCELLED.
I did not cancel. I would never cancel—especially since I’m already here in Birmingham, ready to perform.
It was shut down because of protests and threats over my support for Israel and for speaking up about the 50… pic.twitter.com/5XyV9Qtkkv

— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) August 5, 2025

The owners of the Stardome Comedy Club, where the show was scheduled to take place, cited safety concerns as the reason for the cancellation.

Bruce Ayers, the owner of Stardome, said the show was booked as a comedy show and not a political event, according to WBRC Birmingham.

“We have a long history of hosting a wide variety of entertainers, and our intention was only to give fans a chance to enjoy a night of live comedy,” Ayers said. He told the news station that the club received over 100 messages calling for a cancellation due to protests planned at the venue. 

“Out of concern for the safety and experience of guests, staff, and the performer, the club decided – in agreement with Michael’s management team – to cancel the event," Stardome said in a statement. 

Ayers said the cancellation was not intended to silence anyone, but to “avoid a potentially volatile situation” and to keep things “safe and peaceful for everyone involved.” 

However, Rapaport denied agreeing to cancel the show in his posts on social media, stating, “My show tonight at the Stardome in Alabama was CANCELLED. I did not cancel. I would never cancel – especially since I’m already here in Birmingham, ready to perform.” 

Rapaport was in Birmingham to film a movie and had scheduled the comedy performance for his night off. 

“It was shut down because of protests and threats over my support for Israel and for speaking up about the 50 hostages still being held in Gaza. 670 days in captivity – and people are protesting me for demanding their release?” Rapaport wrote. 

Rapaport has encountered protests at previous shows over his outspoken support for Israel, appearing at hostage rallies and other pro-Israel events. 

Rapaport posted a picture of himself with two members of the local Chabad mission, while wearing tefillin. 

“Fortunately, I got to meet some incredible people from Chabad of Alabama today and had the blessing of wrapping tefillin – a ginormous mitzvah and a reminder of what really matters,” he wrote. “Am Yisrael Chai (the nation of Israel lives).”