A theatre has canceled a performance by comedian Reginald D. Hunter following accusations that his jokes during an Edinburgh Fringe show were antisemitic.
Eastwood Theatre in Giffnock announced the cancellation a day after Mr. Hunter apologized for what he referred to as an “unfortunate incident” during his show.
Reports indicate that two Israeli audience members at his Fluffy Fluffy Beavers performance took offense to a joke comparing an abusive wife to being “married to Israel.” The individuals were reportedly heckled by other audience members as they left the venue.
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, which manages Eastwood Theatre, cited “controversial comments” as the reason for canceling Mr. Hunter’s scheduled September performance.
A spokesperson for the organization stated: “We support the freedom of expression of artists and acknowledge that our audiences may expect some latitude with controversial acts, including alternative comedy.
However, we are committed to our community and uphold values of diversity and inclusion, which we take seriously.”
Mr. Hunter, a well-known figure in comedy and television, expressed regret over the incident on social media.
He acknowledged the stress caused but emphasized that pushing boundaries is part of his role as a comedian.
He defended the joke, as well as others made during the performance, including a comment about the Jewish Chronicle being behind a paywall, which received laughter and applause from the audience.
Campaign Against Antisemitism labeled the comments as “extremely concerning” and emphasized that comedians have a responsibility to their audience. Police Scotland stated that they are “reviewing the circumstances” of the incident.
In February, comedian Paul Currie faced controversy after revealing a Palestine flag during his show and clashing with an audience member.
Recent events include over 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza following an Israeli offensive, which began after Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people in an attack on Israel on October 7 and took 251 hostages.
Journalist James Cheyne, who attended the show, noted that the joke was part of a broader performance that might have been offensive to some.
He mentioned that Hunter used strong language and made jokes about public figures, but the audience remained largely supportive, with one attendee even shouting, “I’m Jewish and I love the joke.”
