Portsmouth Cuts Off Comedian Due To Complaints

The incident occurred Friday night during a free city-sponsored outdoor event called “Jokes and Notes.”

The Virginian-Pilot reports that Portsmouth native Cletus Kassady performed for about 30 minutes and then took a break. Parks and Recreation officials told Kassady that he wouldn’t return to the stage because some audience members, including police officers, were offended by some of his jokes.

Deputy city manager Nita Mensia-Joseph tells the newspaper that city officials decided to end Kassady’s act after she received complaints from community members. She says they complained that some jokes were negative about the city and its police officers.

Kassady denied making any jokes that were negative about Portsmouth or its police force.