Patton Oswalt cancels Florida shows over COVID noncompliance

Who's ready to laugh? Not Florida, apparently.

What's happening: Comedian Patton Oswalt just canceled shows in Florida and Salt Lake City, Utah, on his "Who's Ready to Laugh?" tour after venues wouldn't comply with his policy requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.

• A Dec. 30 stop at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater was canceled along with three other December dates in Florida.

What he's saying: Oswalt said an Instagram video that he was planning to add more shows at compliant venues in Orlando and Clearwater.

• "I have an ego, but my ego is not big enough to think that people should die to hear my stupid comedy. Hopefully in the future we can rebook those when sanity holds sway again."

The big picture: Other performers coming to Tampa Bay have added similar policies to their shows.

• The Straz Center requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for audience members at all performances.
• Amalie Arena is enforcing Harry Styles' policy requiring face masks, as well as proof of vaccination or negative test results, for his sold-out show on Oct. 10.
• Gasparilla Music Festival is doing the same for its Oct. 1-3 takeover of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
• Ditto for Dead and Company, whose Oct. 7 show at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is sold out. Plus, all fans in the pit will need to be fully vaccinated — no fans under 12 and no getting in with just a negative test.