A petition demanding the cancellation of a controversial comedy roast of Vice President Kamala Harris at the University of South Carolina (USC) has garnered significant support, with over 6,400 signatures as of today.
The event, scheduled for Sept 18, is organized by the student group Uncensored America and features far-right political figures Milo Yiannopoulos and Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes as guest speakers.
The Change.org petition, which is rapidly approaching its goal of 7,500 signatures, expresses deep concern over the event’s promotion, which includes a sexually explicit reference to Vice President Harris’s name.
Signatories have voiced their “shock and disappointment” at the university’s decision to allow the event, which they argue promotes “inappropriate and sexist” content.
Critics of the event are particularly alarmed by the involvement of Yiannopoulos and McInnes, fearing that their participation could incite “white supremacy” on campus.
The petition cites USC’s commitment to inclusivity and non-discrimination, accusing the university of contradicting its own values by permitting the roast.
Bakari Sellers, a former state lawmaker and USC Law School alumnus, has also weighed in on the controversy, posting the event flyer on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and calling for “accountability” from the university.
The petition further highlights ongoing grievances from minority groups at USC, who claim that their concerns about the campus environment have been largely ignored by university officials.
The roast, according to the petition, is indicative of a broader issue of neglecting the voices of marginalized students.
In response to the backlash, USC officials have clarified that the university is not sponsoring the event but acknowledged that the student group has the right to organize it.
Sean Semanko, the founder of Uncensored America, has defended the roast as “a fun, lighthearted comedy show” aimed at bringing “joy to campus.”
Despite the controversy, the event remains scheduled to take place on September 18 and will be open to the public.
