She thrives on controversy but was Birmingham venue right to shut down Katie Hopkins?
15:27, 26 Jun 2025Updated 15:45, 26 Jun 2025
Angry reaction to campaign to bar Katie Hopkins from appearing at Edgbaston venue H-Suite (Image: Google Street View/)
Outspoken Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a Birmingham venue amid a backlash by anti-racism activists.
The right wing commentator, accused of stoking race hate through her views on faith and multiculturalism, was due to appear at Edgbaston leisure venue H-Suite tomorrow night (Friday, June 27).
She is currently on a UK stand up tour headlined Bats*it Bonkers Britain, which is playing to sold out audiences in towns and cities across the country.
READ MORE: Anger as controversial Katie Hopkins heads to multi-cultural Birmingham venue
But her planned show in Birmingham triggered a backlash against the venue, which is a popular location for Asian weddings and Caribbean celebrations and is in the heart of a global majority area.
Stand Up to Racism had warned it would protest outside over the venue’s decision to host her.
But now the venue has refused to comment on the decision to cancel except to confirm that ‘there is no event taking place tomorrow’.
Fans have also confirmed the event has been cancelled. Some called the outcome an attack on freedom of speech.
‘Hatter88’ wrote: “I was really looking forward to seeing her on Friday. This is just nonsense.
“There is not a racist or sexist bone in my body and my friendship group would show that.
“I happen to find her entertaining and she says a lot of uncomfortable things about those ‘in charge’ that need to be said.
“If anyone could give an example of anything racist she has said I’d be interested to see it written down here. This is censorship at its worst. RIP free speech.”
Katie Hopkins outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where she had been supporting Tommy Robinson(Image: Lauren Del Fabbro/MyLondon)
They also added: “Victory for the snowflakes. The venue should be ashamed for caving in.”
While ‘Jas111’ wrote: “Grow up, it’s a different viewpoint, not hate speech. Appears certain groups just want to shut down speech they don’t agree with, under the false accusation of hate speech.
“Pretty sure the police would investigate if it was actually hate speech. Virtue signalling at its best.”
‘Smudg’ added: “Her content is not inflammatory and if you don’t like it you can exercise “your right” to stay away – just like “her right” to freedom of speech that doesn’t break any laws.”
But others praised the anti-Hopkins stand, condemning Hopkins for inflaming race tensions with hostile rhetoric ‘then standing back to say nothing to do with me’.
Stand Up To Racism Birmingham and the Birmingham Race Impact Group had been highly critical of the venue’s decision to host Hopkins.
In one particularly heartfelt appeal to the venue’s owners, the family of a businessman whose picture featured on their website spoke out about how their late father’s memory was being besmirched by the connection.
Noori Awan, whose late father Nazir features in a promotional wedding photo, wrote in an email to the venue: “Providing (Katie Hopkins) with a platform legitimises (her) views and contributes to a climate of division and intolerance.
“I am deeply disappointed the H Suite would align itself, even indirectly, with such messaging.
“What makes this especially painful is that your website features a photograph of my late father, a man who dedicated his life to values of unity, equality, and community cohesion.
“Using his image to represent your venue while hosting someone like Katie Hopkins is not only contradictory—it feels like a betrayal of the principles he stood for.”
Hopkins, who became famous off the back of her appearance on The Apprentice, has carved out a career as a commentator and agitator, variously writing in mainstream and right wing media, appearing on talk shows and expressing hard hitting views on a range of topics.
She fiercely defends her right to air her opinions while triggering fury and criticism for allegedly fuelling race hate and making divisive statements. She’s also spoken out about vaccines, obesity and class.
We have contacted Katie Hopkins to comment.
Do you agree with the decision? Let us know in the comments below.