Theatre-goers were told they need to “see a therapist” as protestors targeted those arriving to see comedian Jimmy Carr tonight.
Punters lining up to see the comedian at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury shouted “f*** off” as pro-Palestine activists chanted “shame on you”.
The stand-up comic and TV star took to the stage at The Marlowe in Canterbury this evening and will return tomorrow as part of his latest tour.
But his shows have attracted pro-Palestine protestors in recent months – with a handful of activists chanting outside the venue and handing out leaflets tonight.
In May this year, the comedian attended a private event at the British Museum celebrating Israel’s Independence Day – alongside figures such as Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch and government minister Maria Eagle.
As the small group shouted “he’s not funny” at arriving crowds tonight, some responded: “Oh yes he is.”
People arrived just before 7pm this evening as the protest took place.
One woman who was leading the protest said: “I am pretty confident where I am in history. I feel zero shame.
“As for yourself, if you enjoy racism and support with your money a man who is very happy to support a genocide state…”
The speaker was interrupted by a theatre-goer, who shouted: “Yeah, but he’s a funny **** though.”
Undeterred, she told those visiting: “You either care about it or you would like the law of the jungle, and that’s your problem, then it comes for you, the law of the jungle.”
Then, after crowds started laughing at her, with some putting their middle fingers up and shouting “f*** off”, she responded: “Well if you find racism funny, that’s your problem.
“If you find a child who has lost all of his food funny, that’s really your problem.
“If you find 100,000 people killed funny then really you need to see a therapist and that’s really unfunny.”
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, an activist and member of Folkestone Stands with Palestine, said of tonight’s protest: “We’ve picked up on this one because of Carr’s recent involvement with the embassy of the state committing a genocide [Israel], which is too in your face to ignore.”
Since the Hamas terror attacks of October 8, 2023, Israel has been engaged in a military campaign in Gaza, which has killed at least 56,000 people and injured more than 130,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Many activists have claimed this newest phase in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict constitutes a genocide – an attempt by the Israeli state to kill or entirely drive Palestinians out of Gaza.
Ms Wimborne-Idrissi added: “I think there are many valid ways of protesting about Palestine.
“People who are attending [Carr’s shows] mainly don’t know this, and we think they should know.”
Carr, one of Britain’s most famous comedians, has faced criticism since attending the celebration of Israeli independence.
In May, during an appearance at The Podcast Show, fellow comic Nish Kumar described him as a “f****** ****” for attending an event he suggested was “reputation laundering” for the Israeli government.
One of Carr’s gigs in Warwick in the same month was also disrupted by local pro-Palestine activists.
As yet, the 52-year-old host of 8 Out Of 10 Cats has not responded to the protests.
A leaflet to be handed out by activists at tonight’s gig says Carr “does not deserve to be given a platform at the Marlowe or any other theatre” having taken part in an event to “entertain representatives of Israel”.
An email to The Marlowe’s management by activists criticising the decision to host the comedian has been endorsed by 35 people, including local activists, academics and theatre-goers.
KentOnline approached Carr’s agents and The Marlowe for comment.
