Brewery Cancels Drag Show Fundraiser Amid Threats
A brewery in North Carolina decided to cancel a drag show that was meant to raise funds for undocumented immigrants after they reportedly received death threats.
Teri Lippy, one of the brewery’s owners, mentioned they reached out to local law enforcement but couldn’t verify the legitimacy of the threats, leading them to prioritize the safety of their staff by halting the event.
‘They posted it everywhere, and people started harassing both us and the venue,’ Lippy remarked.
The event, titled “Drag Brunch for a Cause,” had been planned for Sunday at Eleven Lakes Brewing in Cornelius, but faced backlash from critics who aimed to prevent it from happening.
It was marketed as a family-friendly fundraiser for the Carolina Migrant Network, which is a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to undocumented individuals at no cost.
Before the backlash, approximately 100 tickets had been sold. However, a popular social media account, “Libs of TikTok,” shared details about the event, stating, “Eleven Lakes Brewing, a business in North Carolina, is hosting an ‘all-ages’ drag queen show to raise money for illegal aliens… Would be a shame if they went viral!”
Melissa Easley, associated with the event’s main sponsor, suggested that the threats were a direct consequence of the Libs of TikTok post.
“They started advertising it as a children’s drag event,” she noted. “They posted it everywhere, and people started harassing both us and the venue.”
Lippy contended that critics misrepresented the nature of the event, clarifying that parents could bring their children without needing to purchase an extra ticket.
“Nice brewery. Looks like it would burn down easy,” was one of the threats Lippy reported receiving via email.
“Suddenly, we started getting physical and death threats directed at both the venue and us,” Easley added.
Despite the challenges, Easley maintains a positive outlook. “They may have won this battle, but we’re not going away,” she affirmed. “We are regrouping, and this event will happen.”
