Felix Redka threatens to expose the behind-the-scenes of Ukrainian show business

Stand-up comedian Felix Redka, whose performances were cancelled in several Ukrainian cities, announced his intention to publish details about how processes are organised in the country's cultural environment. In a statement on Instagram, he accused unnamed colleagues of a long-standing division of society which, according to him, took place under the guise of patriotic initiatives.

Accusations of audience manipulation

Redka claims that his opponents, having no opportunity to defeat him through creative talent, resorted to criticism. The comedian does not name specific individuals but promises to explain the internal mechanisms of the industry in more detail. «Бездарності вирішили, що не можуть перемогти мене завдяки таланту, тож скористались своєю єдиною навичкою – кенсельнути на крису. Роками ділили країну, прикриваючись вишиванками і збірками Сосюри, стигматизували цілі групи людей, дресирували свої аудиторії атакувати інших українців», – написав він. ("The talentless decided that they couldn't beat me with talent, so they used their only skill – to cancel like a rat. For years, they divided the country, hiding behind vyshyvankas and Sosyura's fundraisers, stigmatised entire groups of people, and trained their audiences to attack other Ukrainians," he wrote.)

According to the humourist, the sharp defence of the Ukrainian language, culture and identity was causing harm to the state. He believes that these processes were destroying, rather than developing, the invaluable Ukrainian culture, taking it hostage and exploiting it for petty interests. «Задр*чили очкарика? Отримаєте. Час показати, як це все працює зсередини», – додав Редька. ("Tired of the snobs? You'll get it. Time to show how it all works from the inside," Redka added.)

Reasons for the cancellation of the "Odyssey" tour

The scandal began after the announcement of the cancellation of a concert in Lviv, which was scheduled to take place on 29 October as part of the "Odyssey" tour. The discussion was initiated by activist Taras Khavunka, who drew attention to the stand-up's previous statements. These concerned the defence of the Russian language, criticism of the demolition of the Mykhailo Bulgakov monument, and comments on the decolonisation processes in Ukraine.

Following the loud resonance, the Dovzhenko Centre announced the cancellation of the event. It later became known that performances would not take place in Khmelnytskyi and Ivano-Frankivsk either. According to Redka himself, the reason cited in Khmelnytskyi was equipment malfunction, while organisers in Ivano-Frankivsk referred to his controversial views.

Public reaction and previous incidents

The organisers' decision provoked varied reactions on social media. Supporters of the cancellation reminded of the comedian's previously expressed positions. Another part of the audience defended Redka, arguing that he creates a Ukrainian cultural product and donates part of his fees to support the military. Apparently, his colleagues, who do not appeal to Russian narratives, do not do this.

In 2025, Dmytro Kucharchuk, the commander of the 2nd Assault Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, called on the Security Service of Ukraine to investigate Redka after his joke about Prince Volodymyr the Great. During his performance, the stand-up told an episode from the biography of the baptiser of Rus, referring to him with a vulgar term. Kucharchuk qualified this as manipulation of history, which could discredit the past of the Ukrainian state.

«Друг розповідає мені, що Володимир Великий розпочав політичну кар’єру із того, що зібрав військо та вирушив у Полоцьке князівство. Там на очах у місцевого князя зґвалтував його дочку, свою майбутню дружину, після чого відрізав йому голову. Посміхається і каже: "До речі, так на світ з’явився Ярослав Мудрий". Я це чую і кажу: "Євгене, і цей п*дар у нас на гривнях?" – цитує свій монолог Фелікс Редька. ("A friend tells me that Volodymyr the Great started his political career by gathering an army and heading to the Polotsk Principality. There, in front of the local prince, he raped his daughter, his future wife, and then cut off his head. He smiles and says: 'By the way, that's how Yaroslav the Wise came into the world.' I hear this and say: 'Yevhen, is this f***er on our hryvnias?'" – Felix Redka quotes his monologue.)

In 2024, Redka also found himself in the epicentre of criticism due to his position on the language issue. He stood up for parents who communicate with their children in Russian, stating that every family has the right to decide this matter independently. «Те, що люди в побуті розмовляють тією мовою, якою їм комфортно, – це їхнє право. Мене дуже дратує коли у Твіттері пишуть: "Чого вони балакають з дітьми своїми російською мовою? Я сиділа в кафе і з дітьми..." Це не має тебе хвилювати. Це не твоя дитина, це не твоє життя. Він сам розбереться. Якщо в результаті цього дитина не буде знати української мови і буде відчувати складнощі, наприклад, у вступі в університет, чи в навчанні, чи в соціалізації, ця відповідальність буде тієї людини й тієї дитини, коли вона вже стане повнолітньою», – пояснював свою позицію гуморист. ("The fact that people speak the language they are comfortable with in everyday life is their right. I am very annoyed when people write on Twitter: 'Why are they talking to their children in Russian? I was sitting in a cafe with children...' This should not concern you. This is not your child, this is not your life. He will sort it out himself. If as a result of this the child does not know the Ukrainian language and experiences difficulties, for example, in university admission, or in studies, or in socialisation, this responsibility will be that of that person and that child when they become an adult," the humourist explained his position.)