During Amy Schumer’s performance in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday night, the comedian was interrupted by roughly 200 people who walked out following remarks Schumer made about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The Tampa Bay Times reports that at one point, Amy called Trump an “orange, sexual-assaulting, fake-college-starting monster.”
Schumer’s show reportedly began with the type of raunchy comedy she has become best known for providing. However, at a certain point, Amy went on a political tangent, inviting a Trump supporter on stage to ask him why he intends to vote for the embattled Republican candidate.
“Do you get worried at all with how impulsive he is? That he gets so fired up from Saturday Night Live doing a skit on him?” Schumer asked the man. “Do you worry he’ll be impulsive and get us in a lot of f**king trouble we can’t get out of?”
Schumer did not appear to appreciate or agree with the man’s answer that he was voting for Trump simply because he disliked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. She then asked the man to leave the stage and said that she would move in another direction.
It was at this point that Amy called Trump an “orange, sexual-assaulting, fake-college-starting monster.” In addition to a loud applause of approval, that comment was met with a few boos from the audience, which Schumer lamented, saying that she expected to hear some boos from the Florida audience.
Schumer then switched gears slightly, asking those in the audience who had ever been victims of sexual assault to stand up. Of course, this is relevant in the wake of Trump’s now infamous Access Hollywood tape in which he admitted to getting away with certain forms of sexual assault because he was famous. Since then, several women have stepped forward and claimed that they had been inappropriately kissed or touched by Trump, although the Republican nominee has denied such claims from all the women who have come forward.
Amy praised those who stood up. Of course, Yahoo News reminds us that Schumer divulged in her book The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo that she was once the victim of sexual assault. Clearly, this is an issue Schumer is familiar with and passionate about.
At @amyschumer ‘s show tonight, she asked the sexually assaulted to stand up together. It was the least alone I’ve ever felt. Thank you.
— Cheeseburger Robot (@chzburger_robot) October 17, 2016
However, Schumer soon went back to talking about politics, confirming to the Florida crowd that she supports Hillary Clinton. When the audience once again became riled up with a mix of cheers and boos, Schumer was ready with a rebuttal.
“I know you’re here to laugh, but you choose how you’re going to live your life, and it’s just too important,” Schumer told the audience. “You can leave, whatever you want, but for five minutes I’m going to talk about stuff. It’s up to you.”
Schumer then began to tell a story about how she performed at Hillary Clinton’s birthday party when a small faction of the audience continued to express their displeasure with Schumer’s material. Amy informed the audience that if they tried to shout over her, they would be kicked out of the show. She even asked audience members to point out those who were booing and shouting, as Schumer had no problem imploring them to leave. Ironically, Trump has had a similar reaction to protesters at his campaign events over the last several months, showing no remorse in having dissenters thrown out.
Following Schumer’s performance, those in attendance took to Twitter to express either support or disgust at Amy.
Love @amyschumer so much more after show tonight. Embarrassed by “neighbors ” who walked out over political ignorance
— A Wilson (@luckylemur) October 17, 2016
Of course, no one should be all that surprised at Schumer getting political in her act. As CBS News tells us, Schumer has been outspoken in her support for Hillary for quite some time. In the past, Amy has also worked closely with her second cousin, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, in an effort to promote gun control legislation. Schumer’s movie Trainwreck was being screened at a Louisiana movie theater in July of 2015 when a gunman killed two people and injured nine others inside the theater. It was an incident Schumer took personally and mentioned during her show in Tampa.
As fans continued to rant and rave about Schumer’s show on social media, Amy released a statement on Monday in response to the controversy.
Hey @amyschumer leave the political stuff out of your comedy shows. We came to laugh not talk politics. We can turn On CNN and NBC for that?
— Luisa Metallo (@LuiGucci) October 17, 2016
Great show @amyschumer ! Big ups for getting political. #tampa #lovefl #AmySchumer
— Krystle Murphy (@NewMurphyLaw) October 17, 2016
“I loved the crowd and my show in Tampa last night! I want to thank the 8,400 people who stayed. We had a great time! We have always depended on comedians to make us laugh and tell the truth. I am proud to continue that tradition.”
[Featured Image by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images]