Comedian banned
Currie has been banned from ever performing again at the Soho Theatre in London after he threw an audience member out for being Jewish ...
British comedian Paul Currie has been dropped from comedy festivals in Melbourne and Brisbane following an antisemitic incident in London.
Currie has been banned from ever performing again at the Soho Theatre in London after he threw an audience member out for being Jewish and incited the audience to scream abuse at the man.
He was supposed to perform in Melbourne in April, but the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) has removed him from its program.
He was also no longer listed on the website for the Brisbane Comedy Festival this week.
A statement from MICF said they recognise that the art of comedy is a natural environment for exploration of and comment on contemporary social and political issues.
“The festival endorses the artist’s freedom to push creative boundaries however, no audience or staff member, in any festival venue, should ever feel victimised or threatened,” the statement read.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich called it “a victory for decency and our shared values”.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV), the Jewish Museum of Australia and Kadimah – Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library had contacted the MICF organisers to voice concerns over Currie’s participation.
JCCV president Philip Zajac said, “If the intent of the comedian is to intimidate an audience, to use their platform to impose their radical, hateful views on others, then there is no place for them at our Australian comedy festivals.”
Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory welcomed the decision, saying, “Comedy should push boundaries, but the line should be drawn when it descends into racist abuse of attendees and chasing them from the theatre.”
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