Toronto comedians SE Grummett and Sam Kruger are in a dispute with their landlord over alleged air quality issues, which the duo claims are caused by their flatulence rather than indoor smoking.
The couple, performing under the name Creepy Boys, are facing eviction proceedings before Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board. Their landlord, who has a chronic lung condition, raised concerns after an air quality monitor in her upstairs unit detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This unit shares an air duct with the comedians’ apartment.
Grummett and Kruger deny smoking inside their residence and suggest the VOC spikes, particularly overnight, could be attributed to their bodily functions. According to a fundraising page established to support their legal costs, a health specialist reportedly verified information from the monitor’s manufacturer indicating that VOC levels can react to bodily functions. This led the comedians to conclude that their flatulence might be the source of the detected compounds, disputing the landlord’s smoking allegations.
The landlord initially issued an eviction notice for “personal use,” which the pair believes is a pretext. "We are being wrongfully evicted because we fart too much," read a statement on the fundraising site. "We believe this is retribution for us enforcing our tenants rights, as well as, our landlords belief that the poor air quality readings in her unit are from us smoking."
The duo states they have investigated potential sources of VOCs, ruling out appliance use and home fragrances. They assert the eviction notice is in bad faith and are pursuing the case in court. As of Sunday morning, approximately $2,400 had been raised for their legal expenses, a month after the fundraising campaign began.
