Earle vs. Pardy in the battle of loudmouths
I don't know what the comment was, but I'm sure it was rude, offensive and insulting. That would be the comment Guy Earle threw at Lorna Pardy, when she disrupted his comedy act in BC. There's conflicting reports from Earle and Pardy, on what was said, and how it got escalated. But, Earle, had his act disrupted continuously by Pardy, who was was with her partner taking in the act. As the heckles continued, Earle verbally went after Pardy. Pardy on her part, didn't shut up, and threw two drinks on Earle. Earle took her sunglasses off her face, and broke them.
Was Earle wrong? Was Pardy? Yes, they both were. They both misbehaved. Earle should should have expected as much as a live performer. Pardy for her part, should have shown a little bit more respect for the other patrons, and the other comedians.
Where this all goes wrong is with Pardy's suit against Earle and the restaurant owner. She's claiming damages of $20,000, on human rights grounds -- for being discriminated against, due to her gender and sexual orientation. Being insulted, no matter how rudely, isn't a human rights issue. Being denied access to services because of gender or sexual orientation, is. Just like Earle, Pardy has the right to say whatever she wants, including hurling insults at him on stage. That wouldn't constitute discrimination however.
How does this get this far? Why wasn't this dismissed a couple of years ago? The only ones getting any benefit from this, are the lawyers -- and the taxpayers are losing some money for this little farce to play out in public.
The National Post has more, here ... and Ezra Levant has an opinion piece here..
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