Heckler Complains about Political Jokes, Throws Beer at Comedian

A comedian being heckled at a show was almost hit with a (seemingly) unopened can of beer. Why? Because politics.

ARIEL ELIAS, COMEDIAN

Ariel Elias, a comedian originally from Kentucky, was performing at Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club in Point Pleasant, New Jersey when a woman in the crowd began to heckle her.

At some point during the show, Elias asked the audience if they had any questions.

One woman decided to take the opportunity to create an uncomfortable situation for everyone in the room by bringing up politics.

Wait: what's the big deal? Comedians bring up politics all the time.

Well, yes, they do. It's part of (most of) their shticks. Political satire in America is as old as Benjamin Franklin and, by now, everyone should expect to be at least a little uncomfortable when they attend a comedy show. Why? Because, at some point during the show, the comedian will probably hit a nerve.

So, what should one do when someone else says something that hits one of your nerves?

ARIEL ELIAS: VOTED FOR BIDEN?

Different people handle uncomfortable situations in different ways, but I can tell you the way to NOT handle the situation: by getting violent.

The video below shows what happens when an audience member asks Elias if she voted for former president Donald Trump in the most recent presidential election.

Elias responded with, "What do you think?", and the woman in the crowd said, "No".

To that, Elias said, "Okay", and then made a joke about being the only "Jew in this room, are you trying to get me killed?".

Elias realizes that the situation could escalate, so she tries to defuse things by reminding people that they can vote for whomever they want and that she was just happy that they were all together in that room on that night.

Then the woman, who I will now refer to as a heckler, said, "So you voted for Biden."

Elias responds with, "I don't know, why does it matter?".

The heckler says, "I could just tell by your jokes that you voted for Biden."

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT POLITICS?

At this point, a third voice, a man's voice, can be heard asking, "Why are we talking about politics?" So it is clear that some in the audience are becoming uncomfortable.

It's a day after the show, I am in my kitchen, and I am becoming uncomfortable watching this; I can't imagine how I would have felt had I been in that room.

ARIEL ELIAS: I CAN TELL...YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP

Elias shoots back at the heckler, "I can tell by the fact that you're still talking when nobody wants you to that you voted for Trump."

This response gets a huge laugh and a round of applause from the crowd.

In an attempt to squelch the woman and continue with the show, Elias asks the crowd to make some noise if they want the woman to shut up.

The crowd obliges again, with a round of applause and some "whoot-whoots" and such.

Thinking it was over, Elias tries to go on with the show, but first she was willing to take the blame for the whole incident, saying that it was her fault for asking if anyone had any questions. "That's on me", Elias said, "for thinking I could have a human interaction with somebody."

SHOTS FIRED: CAN OF BEER THROWN AT ARIEL ELIAS

Well, that last comment seemed to put someone over the edge because, just as Elias tried to continue with her show, a can of beer was thrown at her.

The can of beer missed Elias but hit the wall with enough obvious force behind it that, had it hit Elias, it could have caused some damage.

Elias's reaction to the can of beer being thrown at her was priceless. Watch:

WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS NSFW LANGUAGE

It appears that the general reaction from the crowd was one of shock, with the typical "Oh my god" comments and people gasping in disbelief.

It appears that the same man who earlier asked "Why are we talking about politics?" exclaimed, right after the can of beer was thrown, "Yo, I'm never coming out with (inaudible) people over again", while another woman exclaims, "Are you (expletive) kidding me?"

It is difficult for me to wrap my head around the thought that someone, somewhere, thinks that this is acceptable behavior.

Let's hope that the person who threw the can of beer was tossed from the venue and will be charged (with at least something). Violence is no way to handle a difference in political opinion.

Let's also hope that the person who resorted to violence isn't teaching his/her children to behave in the same manner.