A self‑described “comedian‑activist” was part of a trio who clashed with the Metropolitan Opera last week over what they described as “fascism” in the arts, according to The Post.
Davidson Boswell, 34, from Harlem, was arrested for criminal trespassing after he shouted at the slick ceramic seat in the opera house, shouting “fascism” while two other activists poured into the front of the stage at about 9 p.m. Friday. Police reports said the pair carried banners as they stormed the historic Lincoln Center, where the drama cut inside the performance.
Security personnel managed to escort the protestors from the stage just before the curtain fell, footage shared online shows the chaos. The interruption slowed the show for roughly twenty minutes.
The theater bears the name of David H. Koch, a late philanthropist whose name is linked to the complex that hosts the New York City Ballet. NBC News notes that Koch’s political inclinations have tied his name to conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation and the far‑right plan known as Project 2025.
During the protest, Boswell shouted to the assembled crowd, “The David Koch Theater, it’s across the street? It’s the same people, they fund it all.”
On Sunday, Boswell posted a clip on Patreon titled “spending the night in jail and fascism normalized in the art world” that spoke out against what he calls the “normalization” of fascist policies at Lincoln Center.
The show was disrupted by a newly formed coalition called the “Goofballs,” a group of comedic interventionists, joined by members of the climate advocacy group Climate Defiance, according to sources familiar with the incident.
Friday’s demonstration halted an otherwise renewed rendition of “Carmen” that had been staged in a Mexican border setting. One protester wore military fatigues; another donned a costume resembling a stagehand. Both carried placards that read, “We love Lincoln Center, but they’re in bed with fascists” and added, “The Kochs are murderous ballsacks. Koch funds Project 2025, and the horrors depicted on this stage.”
Nate Smith, 37, and Aaron Toplin, 31, were also taken into custody alongside Boswell.
In a statement to The Post, Boswell said the “Carmen” production, which portrays opera singers as ICE agents tearing families apart, was “clearly meant to criticize ICE.” He argued the show is “deeply disingenuous and hypocritical” because the New York arts community, he claims, is heavily funded by Koch donors.
The Metropolitan Opera has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
