Russell Howard cancels performance and storms off stage after catching an audience member filming him
RUSSELL Howard cancelled his performance and stormed off stage after catching an audience member filming him.
The comedian was reportedly five minutes into his set at Bristol outdoor terrace bar Bambalan in the city centre.
Russell became annoyed when he noticed a woman in the front row point her phone at him.
The funnyman - who grew up in Bristol - believed she was filming his jokes and said "that's literally the worst thing you can do", according to
He said the woman should "live in the moment" and asked how she would like if it someone filmed her at work. He then got his phone out and pretended to film her.
The gig was a new material night for his upcoming tour, and Russell told the woman that comedians are a "dying breed" because they are scared of people filming their potentially unseen content and putting it on YouTube, which could ruin their act.
He then told the whole audience he would only do "safe material from now on" as he started his old routine.
But he was clearly rattled and turned to the woman to tell her "you've ruined it now".
He said: "I was really looking forward to this gig," before apologising, picking up his backpack, and leaving the gig completely.
The woman reportedly appeared embarrassed and told other audience members she was just taking pictures and a few videos like others.
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But a man at the other end of the terrace shouted, "you were filming the whole f***ing thing".
The tickets - which included sets from Jarred Christmas, Abi Clarke and Louise Leigh - cost £5 and didn't communicate that audiences members shouldn't film the sets.
A spokesperson for Russell Howard told BristolLive: "Any comedian whose set is being recorded at a new material night would find it distracting. The beauty of live performance particularly at this strange time is it's intended for the room only."