Nick Swardson blames alcohol, edibles, and high altitude for comedy gig debacle: 'F---ing brain diarrhea'
"Travel tip: don’t drink and take edibles in high altitude."
Nick Swardson is issuing a word of warning: don’t get high while physically high.
The Buddy Games star wrote on social media that a mixture of alcohol, drugs, and high altitude was what led him to be escorted offstage just 20 minutes into his comedy set at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colo., on Sunday.
“Just casually woke up on TMZ,” Swardson posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Travel tip: don’t drink and take edibles in high altitude. F---ing brain diarrhea. I’ll make it up to you Beaver Creek!”
Just casually woke up on TMZ. Travel tip: don’t drink and take edibles in high altitude. Fucking brain diarrhea. I’ll make it up to you Beaver Creek! ❤️
— Nick Swardson (@NickSwardson) March 4, 2024
Video footage from the event, which was later posted on social media, showed that Swardson's behavior quickly drew both ire and laughter from the Colorado crowd during his short-lived set. In one clip, the comedian can be seen talking to an audience member before a woman can be heard shouting at him, “What’d you smoke before the show?”
@NickSwardson just taken off stage after being bombed out of his mind pic.twitter.com/RvbklPGj78
— Sean Guy (@seanrguy) March 4, 2024
Another video featured Swardson declaring that he could still “rally” and save the show before jumping into an impersonation of Jason Statham that led people stand up and leave the theater. “Do you want me to finish this, or no?” Swardson asked the crowd, to which several audience members responded, “No.”
Brutal. I really hope @NickSwardson apologizes publicly. pic.twitter.com/iiNKtU6u5F
— Seth Levy (@letsgoskatepool) March 4, 2024
TMZ also shared footage of what appeared to be the end of Swardson’s performance. In the clip, Swardson, whose spotlight has been turned off, can be heard heard repeatedly shouting “let’s go” as the crowd loudly heckled him. He then referenced his late friend Norm MacDonald before his microphone was cut and he was led offstage by event staff.
The center’s Director of Operations, Justin Brown, then took to the stage to announce that they’d decided to “conclude the show early in the best interest of those who bought tickets” and that they’d be “processing refunds” for the show.
A rep for the center did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment. However, the venue later sent an email apologizing to ticket holders for the “negative experience you may have had at this evening's performance with Nick Swardson,” per TMZ. It read, “Unfortunately, this show did not meet the Vilar Performing Arts Center's standards as a world-class presenter of the performing arts."
"Therefore, all tickets will be refunded to the original payment method," the email concluded. "Please accept our sincere apologies, and be in touch if there is anything we can do to further assist you."
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