A punk show promoter is charging unvaccinated fans $1,000 to attend an upcoming gig in Florida, while those vaccinated only have to pay $18.
Promoter Paul Williams of Leadfoot Productions is encouraging vaccination for COVID-19 by setting two wildly different prices for tickets to the upcoming gig at VFW Post #39 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
For those who have been fully vaccinated, the price per ticket is $18, whereas unvaccinated fans will have to pay $999.99 to attend the gig on June 26, which will feature performances from Teenage Bottlerocket, MakeWar and Rutterkin.
Speaking to Florida news station WFTS, Williams said they’re “just trying to do a show safely,” and people should “go out and get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families and their community“.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently said that “no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision [to get vaccinated]“.
“Charging higher ticket prices for individuals who do not furnish proof of vaccination unfairly discriminates against people who have enumerated rights under Florida law,” DeSantis stated in response to Williams’ tactic.
This is 💯 #leadfootproductions #floridaman #punkrock pic.twitter.com/LpggOO7P1N
— Matthew Newell (@MHNewell) May 29, 2021
“I understand what they’re doing. I think it’s very nice of them, but it’s just not fair…I think it’s terrible because not everyone can get the vaccine. I can’t because I had COVID too recently,” said local punk fan Brittney Wigen.
There have been no takers for the $1,000 tickets, but Williams has said that if anyone does buy one they will be “treated like everyone else”.
Williams isn’t the only one trying to incentivise getting vaccinated, either, with Global Citizen hosting “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World” last month.
The benefit concert held before an in-person audience of 27,000 fully vaccinate health care and essential workers painted a picture of what a post-pandemic world would look like if everyone got vaccinated.
The show featured politicians such as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, celebrities like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and musicians including Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez, all pleading with the public to get vaccinated and discourage world leaders from stockpiling vaccine supplies.
Easy…..Boycott ALL Leadfoot Productions events.
“A business decision”……..Really? Isn’t there an order in place that prevents frivolous law suits against businesses if someone assumes all “risks” of living a normal life and doing normal life stuff? https://t.co/Qgn5fAr5G2
— ScottyP (@ScottyP1063) May 30, 2021
“None of us should be comfortable thinking that we could be fine when so many others are suffering,” Prince Harry said at the event.
“In reality, and especially with this pandemic, when any suffer, we all suffer. We must look beyond ourselves with empathy and compassion for those we know and those we don’t.”
