BOSTON -- A women's shelter on Wednesday cut headliner Sandra Bernhard from its annual benefit after she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she ever visited New York.
Bernhard's made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington D.C., before Palin visited New York to campaign. Bernhard said Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" during a diatribe in which she also criticized Palin for opposing abortion rights.
Many guests at Rosie's Place, a Boston shelter, have been victims of violence, public relations director Leemarie Mosca said.
"In light of our mission, we don't think violence against women is a laughing matter," she said.
Mosca said the shelter expected to book a replacement before the Oct. 16 luncheon "Funny Women ... Serious Business."
"Right now, our main focus is our event and making sure the event is a success," Mosca said. "And for us, that means not including Sandra Bernhard at this time."
A representative for Bernhard had no immediate comment on the cancellation.
In a statement on her Web site, Bernhard said the gang rape comment was part of a larger piece from her show about "racism, freedom, women's rights, and the extreme views of Governor Sarah Palin -- a woman who doesn't believe that other women should have the right to choose."
"I certainly wish Governor Palin no harm -- I'd just like her to explain to me how she can hold such outrageous views ... and then go back to Alaska," she said.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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