Reginald D Hunter addresses Edinburgh Fringe gig after two ‘Israeli audience members told to leave’ | Ents & Arts News
Comedian Reginald D Hunter has said he “regrets any stress” caused after two Israeli audience members were reportedly booed out of his Edinburgh Fringe Festival gig.
The US stand-up was heard telling the pair to leave his Fluffy Fluffy Beavers show on Sunday night after they heckled him over a joke, calling it “not funny”, The Telegraph reported.
According to people who saw the show, the 55-year-old made a joke comparing Israel to an abusive partner, which got a laugh from the majority of those at the show in the Assembly George Square Studios on Sunday.
In a statement addressing the incident, Hunter said on Thursday: “There was an unfortunate incident in my new show ‘Fluffy Fluffy Beaver’.
“As a comedian, I do push boundaries in creating humour, it’s part of my job.
“This inevitably created divided opinions but I am staunchly anti-war and anti-bully. I regret any stress caused to the audience and venue staff members.”
Dominic Cavendish, chief theatre critic at The Telegraph who attended the show, said it was the “most unpleasant comedy gig I’ve ever attended”.
“In the past I’ve had time for Hunter, a free-thinking outsider, who has lived in the UK since 1997,” Cavendish wrote in his review of the show.
Read more from Sky News:
Olympian hits out at ‘devastating’ abuse
Ballerina jailed for 12 years in Russia
UK health officials preparing for mpox cases
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
“But here he gave an object lesson in how not to pick on people in the front row. Instead of tolerating the couple’s joint heckle, he doubled down with a sinister air of beaming bellicosity.”
The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said the events were “extremely concerning”.
“Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, but they also have a responsibility to their audience… watching on and cracking jokes as Jews are hounded out of your show is a sickening low that cannot be disguised as comedy,” a spokesperson said.
Celebrity deaths 2024: The famous stars and other notable figures we said goodbye to this year | Ents & Arts News
From veteran stars of stage and screen to a music industry titan and a style icon centenarian,...
Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner engaged as she says she feels ‘utterly blessed’ | Ents & Arts News
Roxy Horner has confirmed her engagement to comedian Jack Whitehall, sharing footage and...
Gavin & Stacey creators say they ‘both had the same idea’ for final Christmas special | Ents & Arts News
An emotional James Corden and Ruth Jones have said working on Gavin & Stacey has been...
Topsy And Tim author Jean Adamson dies at the age of 96 | UK News
Jean Adamson, the children’s author known for writing the Topsy And Tim book series,...