Russell Howard says he ‘did the right thing’ by storming off stage at comedy gig

Comedian told audience member they had ‘ruined’ his show

Russell Howard said he “probably did the right thing” in storming off stage mid-set when a woman in the audience started filming him.

Last month, it was reported that the comedian had a dispute with someone in the crowd at his comedy gig in Bristol. Howard was around five minutes into his set when he noticed an audience member in the front row pointing her phone at him.

He told the woman that filming him was “literally the worst thing you can do” and suggested she try to “live in the moment”, before mimicking her by pointing his own camera in her direction and walking off stage.

Reflecting on the incident weeks later, Howard said he was “amazed that it went as big as it did” in the news.  

“You won't find any kind of artist, or performer, or comedian, or musician that would feel differently,” he added. “Particularly if you're doing a small gig, and somebody's recording it, it's not going to be good for you and it's not going to be good for the performer.

“It's just pretty simple. But I don’t know, I was surprised at how crazy it went. But I think I probably did the right thing.”

Comedians frequently require audience members to leave their phones switched off during gigs.

Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson reportedly asked fans to sign a non-disclosure agreement before a performance in San Francisco last year. The fine for breaking the NDA was one million dollars.

Dave Chappelle also bars phones from his sets, and many performers fear their material leaking.

Series four of The Russell Howard Hour premieres on 10 September at 10pm on Sky One and NOWTV. Howard's rescheduled world stand-up tour, Respite, begins February 25 2021.

Additional reporting by PA