A FORMER New York City mafia capo has been forced to cancel plans to stage a talk at a venue in Scotland.
We previously told how The Garage nightclub in Glasgow was facing calls to ban an event featuring Michael Franzese, who is name-checked in the film Goodfellas, from bringing his “Re-made Man Tour” to the city.
Franzese’s close links with Andrew Tate (below), who is currently facing charges of rape, human trafficking and organised sexual exploitation in Romania, sparked calls for his event to be called off.
He had even used his links with Tate, who denies all charges against him, to promote the tour, tweeting before an event in Birmingham: “Andrew Tate can’t be there tonight, but you can!”
Franzese’s manager Ella Richards told the Daily Record: “Michael will take to the bloody streets if he has to.
“He’s not laying his fans down. He’s not doing it. We won’t do it. We’re standing strong. We’ve cancelled all our flights so we can travel safely in the car together. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
SNP MP for Glasgow Central Alison Thewliss had been among those to block Franzese from coming to the country.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer told to outline stance on nuclear power in Scotland
Owners of The Garage nightclub took to social media to explain the event has been cancelled.
A statement read: “Michael Franzese Re Made Man event originally scheduled for this Sunday at The Garage, has been cancelled.
“Given the extreme hyperbole surrounding Michael Franzese, it has been decided that the show will no longer go ahead as planned.
“Please contact your point of purchase directly for refunds.”
Franzese previously served a 10-year sentence on federal racketeering charges for his role in a lucrative scheme to swindle millions in gasoline taxes from the US government in the 1980s.
His appearance at The Globe in Cardiff earlier this week was also called off and moved to another venue.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here