Jimmy Carr sparks fury with Holocaust routine in stand-up special

[James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60261876

Comedian Jimmy Carr has sparked outrage for a routine about the Holocaust in his latest Netflix stand-up special.

Carr has been described as "truly disturbing" for making light of the murders of hundreds of thousands of people from Europe's traveller communities during World War Two.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said it was "absolutely appalled".

Netflix, which has been urged to remove the special, declined to comment. Carr has also not commented.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said the comments were "abhorrent and they just shouldn't be on television".

Carr's programme, titled His Dark Material, was released on the streaming platform on Christmas Day but the clip about the Holocaust came to light more widely when it was shared on social media.

<b>The comedian, who introduced his show as being "a career ender" and warned it contained "terrible things", said a "positive" of the Holocaust was that thousands of Gypsies were murdered.</b>

The comments were greeted with applause and laughter from the audience.

Between 200,000 and 500,000 Roma and Sinti people were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, according to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

The charity's chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said: "We are absolutely appalled at Jimmy Carr's comment about persecution suffered by Roma and Sinti people under Nazi oppression, and horrified that gales of laughter followed his remarks.

"Hundreds of thousands of Roma and Sinti people suffered prejudice, slave labour, sterilisation and mass murder simply because of their identity - these are not experiences for mockery."

Ms Dorries suggested the government could legislate to stop comedy people find offensive being shown on streaming platforms. "We're already looking at future legislation to bring into scope those sort of comments," she told the BBC.

Asked about a previous Tweet where she said "left-wing snowflakes are killing comedy", Ms Dorries replied: "Well, that's not comedy."

Anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate said Carr "celebrates" the suffering of the Roma and Sinti people, and called on Netflix to "take action".

The Traveller Movement - a charity supporting the traveller community in the UK - also asked Netflix to remove the one-hour special.

It said the segment in question was "truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour".

It added: "Joking about the genocide of an ethnic minority is not funny."

Fellow comedian David Baddiel tweeted that Holocaust jokes can be "cruel and inhumane and mean-spirited and racist" or they can target oppressors and draw attention to its fundamental evil - saying: "Clearly, Jimmy Carr's was the former."

The Auschwitz Memorial called for Carr to learn about the Roma and Sinti people deported to the concentration camp, adding on Twitter: "It's sad to hear words that can fuel prejudice, hurt people & defile memory of their tragedy."

SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes, who is co-chairman of the House of Commons All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, wrote on Twitter that he was "utterly speechless at this disregard for the horror of the holocaust" and its impact on the Gypsy community of Europe.

He added: "A community butchered by the Nazi regime. @NetflixUK care to comment?"

 

[James]

Interested in thoughts here.

Freedom of speech? Or irresponsible speech?

The right to offend? Or not?

Justified in comedy context? Or too far?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I find Nadine Dorries stance on this to be perplexing.

Firstly, it's actually hilarious how the culture secretary refers to youtube and in this case Netflix as "television".

Also the comment below shows her hypocrisy

Asked about a previous Tweet where she said "left-wing snowflakes are killing comedy", Ms Dorries replied: "Well, that's not comedy."

So do we leave it to our culture secretary to judge what is funny and what is comedic? Clearly Ms Dorries who once claimed that Boris never went "far enough" in his comments about Muslim women resembling letterboxes, feels that it ok to make jokes about some groups, but not ok in other cases.

 

[Robert]

Strewth. What on Earth possessed him?

Holocaust jokes to attack the perpetrators can be funny, but this is punching down on victims of genocide.

Horrific to hear the audience laugh. This is Bernard Manning level stuff.

 

[LaLoco]

Most, I did not, knew of what he had mentioned about being killed by Nazi other than Jews.

He highlighted the history, some are going to get offended because how they were presented the news and some are going to get offended because they want to catch on their 15 second of relevance, otherwise, there was nothing offensive rather a historical lesson wrapped up in a joke that most aren't aware of it due to neither media not regularly highlighting nor school teaching it.

Highlighted the intentional failure of the education system.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Most, I did not, knew of what he had mentioned about being killed by Nazi other than Jews.

He highlighted the history, some are going to get offended because how they were presented the news and some are going to get offended because they want to catch on their 15 second of relevance, otherwise, there was nothing offensive rather a historical lesson wrapped up in a joke that most aren't aware of it due to neither media not regularly highlighting nor school teaching it.

Highlighted the intentional failure of the education system.

This tbh

 

[KingKhanWC]

Strewth. What on Earth possessed him?

Holocaust jokes to attack the perpetrators can be funny, but this is punching down on victims of genocide.

Horrific to hear the audience laugh. This is Bernard Manning level stuff.

He was tyring to explain its not only Jews who were murdered in his usual comedy way.

This isnt something the holocaust industry wants to be known. The death of so many Jews is used for sympathy esp to excuse Israeli crimes which are not much different to what the Nazis did.

 

[Robert]

He was tyring to explain its not only Jews who were murdered in his usual comedy way.

This isnt something the holocaust industry wants to be known. The death of so many Jews is used for sympathy esp to excuse Israeli crimes which are not much different to what the Nazis did.

Don’t make excuses for his disgusting comment. He was punching down on Gypsies, appealing the racist feelings in the audience.

 

[Robert]

Most, I did not, knew of what he had mentioned about being killed by Nazi other than Jews.

He highlighted the history, some are going to get offended because how they were presented the news and some are going to get offended because they want to catch on their 15 second of relevance, otherwise, there was nothing offensive rather a historical lesson wrapped up in a joke that most aren't aware of it due to neither media not regularly highlighting nor school teaching it.

Highlighted the intentional failure of the education system.

I’m offended because he made a racist joke.

Substitute the word Pakistani for the word Gypsy and ask yourself if it feels funny.

 

[Zaz]

He made some very dark n remarks on all topics so not sure why the fury on just the holocaust subjext but not on the others

 

[KingKhanWC]

Don’t make excuses for his disgusting comment. He was punching down on Gypsies, appealing the racist feelings in the audience.

Its called satire. Im not sure why you are so offended? Carr has only said words as comedy, you support invasions and occuaptions.

 

[Bewal Express]

Don’t make excuses for his disgusting comment. He was punching down on Gypsies, appealing the racist feelings in the audience.

I don't know the full context of the Joke and sometimes the the message of the joke doesn't across the way the comedian intended, I don't know. But Jimmy Carr makes cutting edge offensive jokes and that's why he is famous. Why are the people get offended on this joke and not others. And why would you watch him.

 

[Technics 1210]

The show was aired on xmas day 2021, and JC made a trigger warning at the beginning, and the show is called The Dark Material. Hint hint. It’s taken 6 weeks to hit the mainstream news because recently it was Holocaust memorial day. This is how the reporting and social media game is played for maximum effect.

The fact is, when Islam, Christianity, Hindus, Blacks, Whites, Browns, Australians, Arabs, British, Americans etc etc are the butt end of offensive jokes/satire/caricatures - then we’re told freedom of speech is the right to offend, our forefathers fought in the the wars to protect our freedoms.

Well if anyone feels offended, then there’s not much you can do other than cancel your Netflix subscription.

Also I suggest we question why Sarah Silverman can get away with joking about the Holocaust/Jews, yet Jimmy Carr or anyone else cannot.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has suggested new laws would hold to account streaming sites - and possibly prosecute them - for airing jokes such as those made by Jimmy Carr about the travelling community and the Holocaust.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...PvY1ho7SYIe8uN8tMsi1LPzzBk#Echobox=1644059184

A new law to protect jokes against the holocaust.

Freedom is great in the west unless its against any reference related to Jews.

 

[Manunited18]

Jimmy Carr has always made cutting edge jokes/remarks in which hes made a living out if it and majority of the time he's been lauded for being on the edge. Just find it hilarious he's been vilified for something thats norm regarding him.

 

[Robert]

Its called satire. Im not sure why you are so offended? Carr has only said words as comedy, you support invasions and occuaptions.

I am offended because it is racism. Why aren’t you offended by racism?

 

[LaLoco]

I’m offended because he made a racist joke.

Substitute the word Pakistani for the word Gypsy and ask yourself if it feels funny.

I can't speak for other Pakistanis but I won't be offended.

Here is why, he made the joke then he went on to explain his point that vast majority aren't even aware of it. I do not know about Britain but most in North America have no clue about other being killed by Nazis.

If he had ended the joke at the word, "positive", then one should be offended.

 

[James]

I am offended because it is racism. Why aren’t you offended by racism?

imho Jimmy Carr was outing the audience’s racism and the British racism against travelling communities by rousing a huge collective laugh. That is the satirical element.

Jimmy has made jokes about any and every sensitive subject in the past, some examples — death, cancer, the elderly, fat people, gays, religion, animal testing, date rape, 9/11. A group of victims from the Holocaust is just his latest.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I am offended because it is racism. Why aren’t you offended by racism?

Because I get the joke and undrestand its a joke, sattire.

 

[KingKhanWC]

imho Jimmy Carr was outing the audience’s racism and the British racism against travelling communities by rousing a huge collective laugh. That is the satirical element.

Jimmy has made jokes about any and every sensitive subject in the past, some examples — death, cancer, the elderly, fat people, gays, religion, animal testing, date rape, 9/11. A group of victims from the Holocaust is just his latest.

Muslims too and many others. I wont post the video on here but this is what you are reffering to.

Riskiest Jokes Jimmy Carr on Youtube. - People should check this out.

Perhaps we should just ban the words holocaust, Zionism, Israeli terrorism, Jewish or anything else related.

 

[James]

Muslims too and many others. I wont post the video on here but this is what you are reffering to.

Riskiest Jokes Jimmy Carr on Youtube. - People should check this out.

Yes I remember seeing that video in the past. Some of the jokes made me laugh, some of them I found tasteless. Either way I moved on quickly.

This is exactly where the discussion around free speech is found isn’t it. And it’s a tough discussion indeed, and not everyone is going to like that it is even discussed. We encounter this discussion around “where the limit is” in our society time and time again.

Does one have the right to offend? Arguably yes, but then the line is drawn on breaking the law and/or incitement to violence. Personally I don’t sense that this threshold is reached by any of Jimmy Carr’s jokes, and not this one tbh.

In fact, this sort of “criminality” is not something that I would generally look for or locate within a strictly adults-only stand up comedy act, because jokes such as this one from Jimmy are told in the very specific context of it being a deliberately risqué show (titled as such); and the punchlines are aimed at an audience that represents his fanbase, has voluntarily paid to be there & is fully expecting to be shocked by some of the content and to witness the boundaries getting hammered backwards.

The joke in question reminded me of something from a Bernard Manning or Roy Chubby Brown act, not Jimmy Carr’s usual style, and it’s not my cup of tea either — but to be honest this is the sort of thing that has been out there on the 18+ rated stand up circuit for a long time. People don’t have to watch this stuff or give it the time of day if they don’t want to. Change the channel and don’t buy a ticket.

This super-dark brand of humour is not new at all. The main difference is this time the extreme nature of the humour got heavily highlighted. What’s also curious that the show had already been out there on general release for six weeks before anyone raised it as an issue.

 

[the Great Khan]

Muslims too and many others. I wont post the video on here but this is what you are reffering to.

Riskiest Jokes Jimmy Carr on Youtube. - People should check this out.

Perhaps we should just ban the words holocaust, Zionism, Israeli terrorism, Jewish or anything else related.

There are other ways to make people aware. His joke was tasteless. What does the Prophet pbuh say about jokes? I find him a poor comedian and I'm not interested in this anymore. Like [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] I am tired of these debates and discussions. Enough. Time to move on and forge a different society or leave this one. The joke wasn't funny and if he made it about Muslims I would be as offended. I just can't be bothered with all of this nonsense anymore..I hopenhe gets his just deserts..never liked him.

I tend to not watch any of their comedy anymore. It doesn't relate to me. Why do people think its OK to make jokes about genocide? Why..its off limits.. end of..because Jimmy hasn't seen what it does..he lives in his fluffy white world..needs a slap..

 

[Technics 1210]

There are other ways to make people aware. His joke was tasteless. What does the Prophet pbuh say about jokes? I find him a poor comedian and I'm not interested in this anymore. Like [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] I am tired of these debates and discussions. Enough. Time to move on and forge a different society or leave this one. The joke wasn't funny and if he made it about Muslims I would be as offended. I just can't be bothered with all of this nonsense anymore..I hopenhe gets his just deserts..never liked him.

I tend to not watch any of their comedy anymore. It doesn't relate to me. Why do people think its OK to make jokes about genocide? Why..its off limits.. end of..because Jimmy hasn't seen what it does..he lives in his fluffy white world..needs a slap..

Wow. What nonsense.

If the joke was about Muslims you and the others may have felt offended, boo hoo, so what, who cares about your personal feelings. Point is there would be no public outrage unlike a joke referencing Jews/Holocaust. Has the penny dropped yet? Do you understand? Would this MSM defend Muslims in public despite a joke, despite you slitting wrists because you feel offended? No. Would MSM defend Jew? Yes.

How we as individuals feel is not relevant but what what is relevant is how society/media respond.

You talk about forging a new society, well, many have tried, and they only way to forge a new society is by highlighting the flaws of an existing society. One rule for Jews, an other rule for the rest. Prove me wrong.