• Six sold-out Laugh Camp shows in St. Paul were canceled after comedian Ben Bankas posted jokes about Renee Good’s death.
  • The club offered refunds; the owner cited safety and liability concerns for canceling the weekend run.
  • Bankas posted clips on Instagram and YouTube; his management (CAA) is reportedly seeking his full fee.
  • The cancellations follow nationwide protests after Good was killed by an ICE officer on Jan. 7.

What happened

St. Paul’s Laugh Camp Comedy Club canceled a series of six sold-out shows scheduled for Friday through Sunday after Canadian comedian Ben Bankas posted videos of a recent set in which he made jokes about the death of Renee Good. The venue’s website lists the shows as canceled and states ticket holders have been offered refunds.

Why the club canceled the shows

Club owner Bill Collins told the Minnesota Star Tribune he decided to cancel after seeing the videos circulating online. Collins said he did not see a way to “safely present this show in the current climate,” and expressed concern about the liability the club could face if protests or violence occurred.

Collins also told the paper that Bankas’ management company, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), is insisting the club pay the comedian his full fee — which could top $17,000 — despite the cancellations.

What Ben Bankas posted

In the days after Renee Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, Bankas shared clips from his sets on social media where he mocked Good’s death. One line from an Instagram clip read, “Her last name was Good. That’s what I said after they shot her in the face,” and he used a slur when referring to Good’s wife. He also joked that marijuana could have prevented the encounter.

Bankas posted a shorter clip to Instagram and a longer, roughly nine-minute set to his YouTube channel.

Embedded posts:

  • Instagram clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTizjdoCd1T/
  • YouTube channel (longer set): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8shf8HKpyoa-MebNkx_Euw

Public context and reaction

Renee Good was shot and killed in her car by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7 in south Minneapolis. Federal officials have said Ross acted in self-defense, but video shared publicly prompted protests and renewed calls for ICE to leave Minnesota. The incident has drawn national attention and strong reactions online.

Bankas posted additional videos responding to the backlash, saying he was prepared to hire armed security to perform in St. Paul and that the club would have to pay him if it canceled. The situation highlights tension between comedy that courts controversy and venue concerns over audience safety and community response.

What this means for ticket holders and the club

Ticket holders have been offered refunds, according to the venue. Laugh Camp, which has operated in downtown St. Paul since 2007, hosts touring comedians, open mics, and other events. The club now faces potential financial exposure if it must pay the comedian while also refunding tickets.

This story is developing as the community continues to respond to both the killing of Renee Good and the fallout from public commentary about her death.

Image Referance: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/sold-out-shows-canceled-after-comedian-jokes-about-renee-goods-death