Dear Regulars
If you haven’t heard about Bedford, let me cut to the chase.
I was booked to perform Katie Hopkins: ’Live Laugh Love' at the Bedford Corn Exchange on 17 May 2023.
I was so thrilled to have this opportunity to bring us all together to feel better at such a lovely venue.
We are ordinary people who simply want the best for each other, wanting to live our lives just about as free as we can be. And that’s at the heart of the show — laughing at me and my many issues, and at the madness we all face.
Sadly, one individual (unknown to me) saw my name at the Bedford Corn Exchange and wanted me removed. Their petition gathered exactly 50 signatures, the local paper contacted the council and the Mayor cancelled the show. This story ran as ‘news’ across the BBC, the Mirror, the Express, and a myriad of other rags.
Because of one stranger, and their ‘fifty’ signatures, Bedford Council pulled the booking with zero understanding of who I really am, my show or its content.
Lovely Mark was heartbroken for me. He doesn’t want me to have to go through being savaged by the media all over again after five long years of silencing, quietly working hard to lift up our side.
But you know, I believe our path is set in life and I am endlessly uplifted and strengthened by all of my incredible supporters. And, true to form, you have shone more brightly than ever and have helped to light my path once more.
Without my knowledge, a gentleman [Edward Ruggiero] started a petition to ‘Let Katie Come’ to Bedford. Another kind soul created a website [ www.letkatiecome.com ] to help direct people to sign the positive petition. Others have left incredibly powerful comments on the petition site; even many of my critics think the show should go ahead.
I have written to the Mayor, offered to perform my show for him and the council so they can see it is kind, funny and nothing to do with the defamatory remarks made by one person and their negative petition. I have offered to give any profits to a Bedford charity of their choice.
The venue itself believe people should have the freedom of choice to attend. And, at time of publishing this article, there are over 1,000 signatures on the petition. Wouldn’t it be terrific if the media, so keen to talk of fifty signatures on a negative petition, would report our petition of 1,000+ to have our show reinstated.
I wanted to say two things: Firstly, if you can spare a moment and have a UK postcode (zip code) perhaps you might want to support the petition to ‘Let Katie Come’. It is here:
More importantly, thank you. No matter how many times I get thumped to the canvas, it is always you who pick me back up. And it’s an incredible thing to get up each time stronger than before.
The Show Must Go On. And if Katie can't come to Bredford, we will bring Bedford to me.
See you at the Katie’s Arms on Friday 8pm LIVE with an update on where that will be.
Image is courtesy and copyright of www.letkatiecome.com