A controversial US preacher who is suing the Hydro after his show was cancelled has launched legal action against two other UK venues.
Franklin Graham was due to address crowds at the SEC venue on May 30.
But the Hydro confirmed on January 31 it had axed the event – which came after pressure from its primary shareholder, Glasgow City Council.
Anger had previously been mounting towards Mr Graham from his past comments made about gay rights and Islam, and his support for Donald Trump, despite the US President’s adultery.
READ MORE: Hydro ‘snubs’ legal action by US preacher Franklin Graham over event axe
We revealed how the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), who run Mr Graham's tour events, began legal proceedings against the Clydeside venue.
The BGEA asked Glasgow Sheriff Court to grant an interim order requiring the venue to hold the event.
But on Friday we revealed how Hydro bosses intended to "resist" the request, instead being given a seven-day extension to detail out why they cancelled the event.
The Hydro was not the only venue to cancel the Graham tour – with locations in Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham, Newport, Milton Keynes, and London all axing their events.
And now, the BGEA have launched legal proceedings against the venues in Sheffield and Newport.
Franklin Graham with President Donald Trump
A statement from the group reads: "In addition to the legal proceedings in Glasgow, BGEA has now filed claims against parties in Sheffield and Wales that it believes were responsible for cancelling its legally binding contracts.
"BGEA’s position remains that in nearly 70 years of public evangelistic outreach ministry, there is no evidence whatsoever that any BGEA event involving Franklin Graham has ever caused a danger to public safety or incited public disorder.
"The actions taken by these venues and those responsible for them to publicly repudiate these contracts are clear efforts to distance the decision-makers from BGEA, Franklin Graham and other Christians who hold similar beliefs.
"There is no question that this was done under pressure from those with opposing views who have demonstrated a relatively predictable pattern of harassment and bullying of those doing business with BGEA."
The case in Sheffield involves FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield City Trust.
While the case in Newport involves the ICC Wales venue and the Welsh Government.
READ MORE: US preacher Franklin Graham begins legal action against Glasgow's Hydro
Venues came under pressure to cancel the tour with many locals and elected representatives expressing discontent with Franklin Graham's views.
In 2016, Graham accused LGBT activists of “trying to cram down America’s throat the lie that homosexuality is OK”, and said anti-discrimination laws in the US would mean that “your children, and your grandchildren, will be at risk to sexual predators and perverts”.
Last year he criticised presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg for being a self-described gay Christian.
He stated that the Bible defines homosexuality as “something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicised”.
The BGEA statement added: "This disregard for principles of good faith and fair dealing, based on the mere suggestion that a person’s sincerely held religious views or statements are “hateful” or would result in public disorder, should be very alarming to anyone who is genuinely concerned about diversity, inclusion and tolerance, let alone free speech and the free exercise of religious beliefs."
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