Chris Rock leaves stage at party after attendees record surprise comedy set

Thursday

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Chris Rock abruptly left the stage during a private holiday comedy set on Saturday, Dec. 7, making headlines for cutting his performance short. Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt hosted the event, where Rock entertained an exclusive audience.

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However, the comedian stopped his set halfway through after noticing some audience members were recording him, according to People magazine.

Strict no-filming policies in comedy

Recording during comedy shows is widely frowned upon, and Rock is no exception. He has enforced a strict no-filming policy since 2017.

Comedians like Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle have also taken measures to prevent recording. They often require audience members to lock their phones in Yondr pouches, a tool used to create phone-free environments.

Yondr pouches use a magnetic lock mechanism and can only be unlocked at designated stations. They are commonly used at comedy venues, schools and concerts to reduce distractions.

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Why comedians prohibit filming

Comedians implement no-recording policies to prevent jokes from circulating online out of context and to protect the surprise of their material.

Dave Chappelle explained the importance of this in an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2017.

“If someone sees a joke I’m doing before I get to their city, I have to do all new jokes, and I can’t write fast enough,” Chappelle said.

Despite Chris Rock’s early exit, the party continued. Country music star Keith Urban performed a nearly two-hour concert for the guests.

Some reports claimed Rock stormed offstage and that children were present in the audience. However, a source told People magazine that neither of those claims is true.

Tags: Australia, Concert, Entertainment, Social Media

[KENNEDY FELTON]

AN EXCLUSIVE HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN WHEN SOMETHING IN THE AUDIENCE FORCED COMEDIAN CHRIS ROCK TO CUT IT SHORT.

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSMAN ANTHONY PRATT HOSTED A HOLIDAY PARTY WHERE GUESTS WERE TREATED TO A SET FROM ROCK. BUT HE’S MAKING HEADLINES after LEAVING THE STAGE HALFWAY THROUGH HIS PERFORMANCE AFTER NOTICING MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WERE TAKING VIDEOS OF HIS PERFORMANCE,PEOPLE MAGAZINE REPORTS.

THERE’S AN UNSPOKEN RULE IN COMEDY – NO RECORDING DURING SETS… AND ROCK IS NO EXCEPTION. HE’S ENFORCED A STRICT NO-FILMING POLICY SINCE 20-17. OTHER COMEDIANS LIKE KEVIN HART AND DAVE CHAPPELLE ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR REQUIRING AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO LOCK THEIR PHONES IN POUCHES DURING PERFORMANCES, AND IT HAS SINCE BECOME A COMMON PRACTICE AT MANY COMEDY VENUES.

THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS PARTIALLY TO PREVENT MATERIAL FROM CIRCULATING ONLINE OUT OF CONTEXT… AND TO PRESERVE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. (PAUSE)

[DAVE CHAPPELLE ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE IN 2017: “IF SOMEONE SEES A JOKE I’M DOING BEFORE I GET TO THEIR CITY, I HAVE TO DO ALL NEW JOKES AND I CAN’T WRITE FAST ENOUGH.”]

YONDR POUCHES ARE OFTEN USED AT COMEDY SHOWS. THEY LOCK PHONES INSIDE WITH A MAGNETIC MECHANISM THAT CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY USING A SPECIAL BASE. YONDR HAS ALSO BEEN USED IN SCHOOLS *AND CONCERTS TO CREATE A DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT.

DESPITE ROCK’S EXIT – THE PARTY CONTINUED WITH MUSICIAN KEITH URBAN PERFORMING A NEARLY TWO HOUR CONCERT FOR ATTENDEES.

SOME REPORTS CLAIM ROCK STORMED OFF STAGE AND THAT THERE WERE CHILDREN IN THE AUDIENCE. HOWEVER – A PERSON IN ATTENDANCE TELLS PEOPLE MAGAZINE BOTH ARE UNTRUE.