Movies

Ariel Elias: Trump supporter throws beer can at comedian

October 11, 2022

A Trump supporter in New Jersey threw a can of beer at a comedian while performing over the weekend after finding out she didn’t vote for the former president in 2020.

Ariel Elias shared a video clip of the viral incident on her personal Twitter account, which happened Saturday night while she was making a set at Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club in Point Pleasant Beach.

“To answer the most obvious question, yes I picked up what was left of the beer and drank it,” tweeted the New York-based comedian, who describes herself in her online biography as a ” Jew from Kentucky”.

According to an interview Ms Elias gave to News After the attack, the man who threw the partially full can of beer at him arrived at the seaside bar with a group of around 20 other customers who appeared to be celebrating some sort of birthday and already appeared to be quite ‘rowdy’ “in front of her 9:30 p.m. together.

She started the night off with a routine of body image jokes, but then decided to open the stage for a round of Q&A with the crowd.

A woman from the group of rowdy spectators then raised her hand in the air and asked Ms Elias: “Did you vote for Donald Trump?”

Mrs Elias, who said BuzzFeed that she was immediately unsettled by the highly politicized question, then tried to defuse the questioning by answering the question with a joke, and said, “Why would you ask me that question knowing that I’m the only Jew in this piece ? Are you trying to get me killed?

The interaction, unfortunately, didn’t end there as the inciting guest then yells at the comedian, “So you voted for Biden?”

She replies, “I don’t know. What does it matter?”

The heckler then uses Ms Elias’ deviation as evidence that she voted for the Democratic challenger – and current president – to Mr Trump in the 2020 election and exclaims: ‘Yes, you did! ” before adding, “I could just tell by your jokes that you voted for Biden.”

Ms Elias, taking the opportunity to crack a joke and perhaps bring it back to its original purpose, jokes: “I can tell by the fact that you’re still talking when nobody wants you to vote for Trump.”

The New York-based comedian then rallies the already cheering crowd to continue making noise if they wish to show their support in silencing the vocal patron who questioned the comedian.

Her request is met with a round of applause and cheers, and the woman is no longer heard on camera.

Ms. Elias then tries to carry on with her set and starts making a joke about her IUD when, before you can really begin to process what’s going on, a loud thud and splashes hit the brick wall behind her.

A clearly stunned Ms. Elias then turns to examine what has just landed against the far wall, inches from where her face was, and scoops up the partially full beer with her jaw left open.

” Are you kidding me ? equally shaken spectators can be heard saying moments after the beer was thrown on stage. “I will never date this group of people again,” another disgruntled guest can be heard saying.

A beer can be seen hitting the wall behind comedian Ariel Elias after being questioned by a Trump supporter mid-term in New Jersey on Saturday, October 8, 2022

(Twitter/@Ariel_Comedy)

Ms Elias, in an effort to keep the upper hand on her tray, then proceeds to sample the partially full drink on stage after lifting it above her head in mock cheers to the audience.

“At first, I was in shock. Did it really happen? she said News.

Ms Elias confirmed to the outlet that one of the rowdy band members approached her after she apologized on their behalf and another person gave her $20 for her trouble.

Comedian Ariel Elias can be seen swallowing the remains of a can of beer thrown at her during her routine in New Jersey on Saturday, October 8, 2022

(Twitter/@Ariel_Comedy)

Club owner Dino Ibelli has confirmed BuzzFeed News that the can was thrown by a man who was the partner of the woman who had asked the comedian’s pressing questions.

This individual, he said, left the club shortly after throwing the can at Ms Elias, but Mr Ibelli said he had been in contact with local authorities after he was able to positively identify the suspect .

Ms Elias later confirmed on Twitter that the club were indeed pressing charges against the man who threw the drink at them, and added that there was more positive news to report:

“Fwiw the club are suing the guy and booked me to come back in April,” she tweeted on Sunday.

A Point Pleasant Beach Police Department spokesperson confirmed BuzzFeed News that the force had traveled to the New Jersey club on Sunday to collect evidence, including security footage of the incident.

The virality of the attack on Ms Elias has even caught the attention of Washington DC, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, the 41-year-old California Democrat who is running for president in 2020.

“This is Trump’s America. They prefer violence to voting. And laughing,” the Democrat tweeted on Sunday. “I don’t care who @Ariel_Comedy voted for. She’s funny and deserved to finish her set. At least she got to finish that beer.

“This is where we are politically as a country. Elect people who want to unite, not divide,” tweeted Matthew Diemer, Democratic congressional candidate for Ohio’s 7th District.

Other comedians and artists also came out to express their support for the Kentucky-born comedian, while pointing out how dangerous and scary it can be to do stand-up comedy in today’s polarizing political climate.

“A hero among us,” tweeted actor George Takei, while comedian Robin Tran called Donald Trump’s supporters some of the most fragile audiences she’s ever performed in front of, saying, “They had used to call The Comedy Store to ask and make sure no one would make fun of Trump that night. I’ve never seen another band do that before.