Jodie Comer stops stage performance because of New York air: ‘I can’t breathe’

Jodie Comer stopped her one-woman show Prima Facie on Broadway because of breathing difficulties owing to New York’s air crisis.

According to eyewitnesses, the award-winning star of Killing Eve, tipped to win a Tony award this weekend, was 10 minutes late for the matinee performance. After three minutes of the show, she announced that she couldn’t proceed.

“I can’t breathe in this air,” she said, before being helped off stage.

As reported by Deadline, after Comer left the stage, attendees were told an understudy would be taking over.

A spokesperson for the show confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that Comer “had difficulty breathing due to the poor air quality in New York City”.

The city is in the grip of a second day of air difficulties as a result of wildfires in Canada. More than 400 fires are blazing in the country with over 500 firefighters working to put them out. As of Wednesday, New York had the second worst air quality of any big city in the world after Delhi.

“We recommend all New Yorkers limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible,” Eric Adams, the mayor, said. “Those with pre-existing respiratory problems, like heart or breathing problems, as well as children and older adults, may be especially sensitive and should stay indoors at this time.”

Wednesday has also seen the cancellation of a planned picketing by the Writers Guild of America in New York because of the air quality. The organisers of this year’s Tribeca film festival, which starts today, are “monitoring the situation closely and following guidance from the city”. Tonight’s events are indoors but red carpet arrivals and interviews are set to be outside which may be cancelled with limited outdoor activity recommended.

Prima Facie tells the story of a lawyer grappling with the fallout from a sexual assault. It involves Comer monologuing for 100 minutes, a performance that the Guardian’s Arifa Akbar praised for infusing “breathtaking emotional drama in every last word” when it was on in the West End. Comer won an Olivier award for her performance.

This weekend’s Tony awards sees Comer up against Jessica Chastain for the best actress award. It was recently announced that Cynthia Erivo would be playing the role in a big-screen adaptation of the play.