A stand-up comedian has cancelled his gig at a London university after students asked him to sign an agreement ensuring that his jokes would be “kind” and “respectful”.
Konstantin Kisin was one of several comedians set to perform at a fundraiser for Unicef at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) next month.
He says he felt unable to go ahead with the gig after receiving an email from student organisers that included a “behavioural agreement form” for him to sign before performing in order to “avoid problems”.
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The agreement stipulates that: “All topics must be presented in a way that is respectful and kind. It does not mean that these topics can not be discussed. But, it must be done in a respectful and non-abusive way.”
By signing the contract, performers were agreeing to avoid any material which could be construed as “racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia or anti-religion or anti-atheism”.
In an email accompanying the form, Unicef on Campus society leader Fisayo Eniolorunda said the contract had been written to ensure an environment “where joy, love and acceptance are reciprocated by all”.
Kisin said he was astonished by the request. “Obviously performers shouldn’t be allowed to go on stage with the intention of being racist or homophobic,” he told The Guardian. “But comedians play with ideas and sometimes we stray over the line, or are perceived to have done so.
“It’s vital that we’re not prevented from playing with ideas in that way or forced to sign contracts that mean if that happens, we’re held up as having broken our word.”
The Russian-born comedian said that the missive reminded him of his childhood under the Communist regime where all forms of media were strictly controlled by the state.
“This is a threat to freedom of speech and I have declined the invitation on a point of principle,” he told The Times. “I grew up under the Soviet Union. When I saw this letter, basically telling me what I could and couldn’t say, I thought this was the kind of letter a comic would have been sent there.”
The Soas student union says there is no policy requiring speakers at the university to sign behavioural agreements. It suggested the Unicef on Campus society had been “overzealous”.
In a statement, the society has apologised for what it described as a “misunderstanding” over the agreement.
“Given that Unicef is a children’s charity, we wanted to make sure it was an appropriate event for the cause,” said the society. “We would never wish to impose that guests would have to agree to anything they do not believe in. We apologise for the misunderstanding.”
