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SALT LAKE CITY — Comedian Patton Oswalt has canceled an appearance that had been scheduled for Salt Lake City early next year over COVID-19 regulations.
Oswalt had planned to make a stop at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus, but the show has been canceled because the venue is not able to require guests to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Oswalt is requiring people who attend his shows to be vaccinated or have a current negative COVID-19 test.
"Ugh. I did EVERYTHING I could to prevent this," Oswalt wrote in an Instagram post last week announcing the cancellation. "I'm really bummed about this. SLC is an eerily beautiful city where the sun refracts through the mountains and gives everything this otherworldly glow."
Since Kingsbury Hall and the University of Utah are state entities, they are barred from requiring vaccinations or masks for visitors or guests attending events. The venue's website said refunds will be processed automatically in the coming weeks.
Oswalt said he canceled four events in Florida for similar reasons. He added that he hopes to rebook all the canceled dates at some point in the future.
"Stay safe everyone," he said in the Instagram post.
Rock band Counting Crows recently canceled a concert that was scheduled last month at Red Butte Gardens because the venue couldn't require guests to be vaccinated. Red Butte is also on the University of Utah campus and is governed by state laws.
