London council has cancelled Reginald D Hunter’s show over his alleged ‘anti-Semitic’ joke
A London council has cancelled Reginald D Hunter’s show over his alleged ‘anti-Semitic’ joke.
Here’s the Telegraph:
Hunter was subsequently set to play at Harrow Arts Centre, but Harrow council has cancelled the show because of a clash of “values”.
The local authority has asked the 400-seater theatre, which is funded by the council, to remove Hunter from the line-up of a planned show in October.
A council spokesman said: “We champion arts and culture in Harrow and strongly support freedom of speech. However, we also take seriously our duty to foster good relations with people – something we take great pride in Harrow.
“Recent comments and events relating to Reginald D Hunter do not reflect our values of diversity, inclusion, and good community relations.
“We were also particularly concerned by reports about the treatment of audience members at his recent show in Edinburgh. We have therefore taken the decision to remove this act from the mixed bill comedy show at Harrow Arts Centre on Oct 11.”
Reggie has been targeted by pro-Israel activists (using their usual claim of anti-Semitism) after he made a reference to My Wife, My Abuser, a Channel 5 documentary about an abusive partner who publicly claimed that her victim was guilty of abusing her, during his Edinburgh Festival Show.
He told the audience: “When I saw that, I thought, my God, it’s like being married to Israel.”
Two audience members, who claimed to be Israeli (although this is hotly disputed), and who turned out to be lawyer Mark Lewis (who represents Jewish celebrities, most commonly in libel claims) and his partner Mandy Blumethal (both are well-known for crying wolf over anti-Semitism), said the joke was not funny and were asked to leave after they caused a scene.
Media friends of the pro-Israel lobby said the couple were hounded out by the audience, but video evidence suggests that Reggie tried to calm the situation and it is the couple themselves who tried to enflame it with abusive comments aimed at audience members.
Sadly, it seems Lewis and Blumenthal have achieved their goal, with Reggie being cancelled by UK venues as a result of the incident.
This Writer is in two minds about it, though – not because of this joke but because of another that he told afterwards.
He told an anecdote about how he was once made aware that someone from The Jewish Chronicle would be watching his show for a review.
His partner sought out the review, he said, but could not access it online because of a paywall. He then said (according to the Torygraph): “Typical f—ing Jews, they won’t tell you anything unless you subscribe.”
To me, that is anti-Semitic; it plays on the trope that all Jews are obsessed with making money.
Reggie has apologised for any discomfort his show has caused. He defended it by saying comedy should push boundaries.
I fear that he and others may draw false conclusions, though, based on the media’s obsession with the wrong line in his show.
Source: London council cancels Reginald D Hunter stand-up show over ‘anti-Semitic’ joke
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“To me, that is anti-Semitic; it plays on the trope that all Jews are obsessed with making money.”
Yes, that would be correct. But did he really say it?
The joke was barely funny but I’m so pleased it found a much, much bigger audience than it might have done.