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Even Harlingen city leaders were anxiously awaiting a good laugh.

Like hundreds of others, City Commissioner Jerry Prepechal said he wanted to a see an upcoming performance of rapper and comedian Katt Williams at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.

“I wanted to go...I mean I watch him in TV all the time I think he's a great comedian," Prepejchal told Action 4 News.

But instead of getting laughs, the city and ticketholders got some not so funny news that Katt Williams had cancelled.

Williams was set to appear at the municipal auditorium in Harlingen on July 16th but promoter Marjai Entertainment claims the comedian pulled out due to medical reasons.

But Prepejchal said he learned something disturbing about the performance.

“I spoke to the city manager and that’s where I found out that apparently the people that are doing the promotion never even spoke to Katt Williams people he didn’t even sign up to come down here," Prepejchal said.
                       
The Harlingen commissioner is outraged and said the city is taking immediate action.

Prepejchal told Action 4 News that the auditorium's policy of just renting the venues out as long as they pay is about to change.

He promised the city will begin to do to do background checks and oversee the entire deal, both with the promoter and talent.

“Not only does it shed bad light on the promoter but it’s going to shed bad light on the city," Prepejchal said.
           
Action 4 News wanted to know if legal action could be taken against Marjai Entertainment.

Prepejchal said no because they haven’t broken the city’s contract.

“We can’t really because he paid the rent of the building…he signed the paper work," Prepejchal said.

So far, the only apology Marjai Entertainment has offered is giving ticketholders free entrance to an unnamed show at a later date.

Perpachal does have a message for Harlingen residents.

“Something like this will never happen again, especially in my city" he said. "It’s not going to happen."

Action 4 also tried reaching Katt Williams' management team to confirm they've never heard of Marjai Entertainment but they have yet to respond.

In the meantime, Prepejchal told us the new policy should be in place within a week or two.