Loyola University Chicago Cuts Comedian Hannibal Buress’s Mic After Sex Abuse Joke

Comedian Hannibal Buress had his microphone cut during an event at Loyola University Chicago after he made a joke about child sex abuse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1ItT6z9UOA&ab_channel=BenOrtiz

Buress opened his set by reading an email from the university about restrictions on his event. As per the contractual agreement, Buress was prohibited from joking about rape, sexual assault, race, sexual orientation, gender and illegal drugs.

Because Buress is famous to many for his routine that brought attention to the sexual misconduct allegations against Bill Cosby, controversial subjects are central to his work.

Shortly after Buress made a joke about sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church during his set at Loyola University Chicago, his microphone was cut.

Students who spoke to the Chicago Tribune expressed their disappointment in their university’s handling of the Buress event. Most were confused as to why the university would book a comedian like Buress if they weren’t interested in jokes on controversial subject matters.

“I just thought it was kind of ridiculous how Loyola encourages us to think in a critical manner, that critiques institutions, and then they’re an institution that can’t handle the critique,” said student William Hansberry said. “The comedian before Hannibal was swearing just as much and had no problem.”

“Knowing who Hannibal is as a comedian, you should expect those kinds of things from him,” said Loyola student Erika Eringis said. “So I don’t know why they booked him when he’s a comedian who jokes about those subjects.”

Loyola University Chicago said in a statement to the Tribune that they cut Buress’ microphone strictly because he violated the terms of his agreement.

Loyola University Chicago cut the mic on Hannibal Buress’s performance Saturday, March 17, because he violated the mutually agreed upon content restriction clause in his contract. It is standard for the University to include a content restriction clause in entertainment contracts; Buress is the only entertainer to disregard the clause to the degree that his mic was cut. Buress eventually returned to the stage and completed his set.