POINT PLEASANT, NJ – Ariel Elias, a female comedian, had a beer can thrown at her while performing on stage at Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club in Point Pleasant.
Today, the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department said Elias has declined to file charges against her attacker.
“According to staff, the male suspect and his female companion left almost immediately after the incident,” the department said today in a statement. “Our officer then made telephone contact with the performer, who stated the incident started when she had a verbal exchange with a female and that she could not see who threw the beer because of the stage lights.”
When Elias asked the audience if they had any questions, two audience members began heckling her over her political position.
“Did you vote for Joe Biden?” the woman in the crowd asked. “I can tell by your jokes that you voted for Joe Biden.
“I can tell by the fact that you’re still talking that nobody wants you to,” Elias responded to a round of applause from the audience. “Alright, make some noise if you want her to shut up.”
The audience once again loudly applauded Elias.
As she continued her routine, a full beer was thrown at her head, missing by inches. She smiled, picked up the can of beer, and chugged it, once again, receiving a loud round of applause.
“The performer said she did not want to pursue charges. She was advised the incident was being documented and how to sign a complaint if she changed her mind,” the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department said.
The video clip released by Elias on Sunday has gone viral, propelling her notoriety and even earning her an article in Rolling Stone magazine.
“I’d really appreciate it if anyone could please just let my teachers know that chugging a beer has, in fact been great for my career,” she later joked about the incident.
Ocean County, where the club is located, is a predominantly Republican-leaning county and was named one of the “Trumpiest” counties in New Jersey after the 2016 and 2020 elections.
