Katie Hopkins comedy booking at Beau Sejour sparks Guernsey debate over freedom of expression
Katie Hopkins is due to perform her Free Range comedy show at Beau Sejour on 13 May, a sold-out appearance that has prompted a vocal debate among island politicians about freedom of expression and the duty of care owed to vulnerable community members.
Katie Hopkins booking and the sold-out Free Range show
The event is labelled Free Range and is scheduled at Beau Sejour on 13 May; tickets for the appearance are sold out. The publicity for the performance describes it as a night where "Katie will bring her unapologetic humour back to the stage for a night of laugh-out-loud stand-up comedy where you will remember how it feels to belong. " The planned show has attracted local attention and debate because of the performer's public profile and past controversies.
States Meeting exchange: Deputy Jayne Ozanne raises concerns
Deputy Jayne Ozanne used a States Meeting to ask Education, Sport and Culture President Paul Montague whether the government had a duty to balance freedom of expression with the concerns of vulnerable members of the community when States-owned venues provide a platform. Her question focused on the forthcoming, sold-out Free Range performance at Beau Sejour.
Deputy Ozanne said she did not think States-run venues should be used for events that would be offensive and "verging on hate speech" and that such events could make vulnerable people who use those facilities feel unsafe. She described the performer's previous speeches as "frankly racist, homophobic and transphobic" and said that while she supported free speech, people needed protection. Shortly after the exchange in the assembly, Ozanne posted on social media that she was "very frustrated at the lack of understanding about the dangers of hate speech. "
Paul Montague defends the booking and orders policy review
Deputy Paul Montague, who has political responsibility for Beau Séjour Leisure Centre, defended the booking. He said it is not for the government to decide what people find entertaining and warned against turning every venue booking into a political decision. Montague said the States had a duty of care but that it would be inappropriate for the assembly to "descend into a culture war. " He has asked officers to look again at booking policies to establish robust principles to avoid contentious issues in the future.
Montague also argued that freedom of expression protects unpopular views as well as agreeable ones and cautioned that preventing an entertainer from hiring a public venue risks creating a precedent where access is determined by political opinion rather than the rule of law. He said he did not see the show as presenting a safety issue, noting it is "badged as entertainment" rather than a political rally and that Beau Sejour has a theatre where people will go if they have bought tickets. He acknowledged people may feel vulnerable or uncomfortable but said it was not the assembly's role to judge what individuals find entertaining.
Performer response and venue management stance
The performer has reacted publicly to local opposition. In a video posted to her social media she discussed the upcoming Guernsey performance and noted that "we cannot get one in Jersey. " She praised a statement from the Head of Recreation Services responsible for managing Beau Sejour that "the Centre does not selectively choose which acts can and cannot hire its facilities" and that "it is for the public to vote with their feet by either booking, or not booking, tickets depending on their view on any one act. "
She described that approach as the "holy grail" of what her tours have been about and said it was the "gold standard, " urging that venues adopt a policy of letting the public decide by attendance. The performer has previously had events pulled at some venues and is widely regarded as a polarising figure known for outspoken commentary that has attracted criticism and provoked debate. She has also said attendance at her show is optional.
Local reaction and what comes next
The controversy in Guernsey has prompted discussion about freedom of speech among Sarnian politicians this week and arrives months after a reader letter urged islanders to boycott the performance. Officers have been asked to review booking policy for States-owned venues; how that review will change practice is unclear in the provided context. For now, the sold-out Free Range show at Beau Sejour remains scheduled for 13 May, and local debate over platforming controversial performers continues.
