Jimmy Carr pictured during filming of the Graham Norton show at the London studios
(Picture: PA)Jimmy Carr faced protests over his controversial Holocaust joke outside a Cambridge venue where performed on Wednesday.
The comedian, 49, was criticised for making the Holocaust a punchline, leaving people outraged.
Speeches outside Cambridge Corn Exchange as protesters gather outside Jimmy Carr gig pic.twitter.com/St0TIouD4c
— Fiona Leishman (@leishman_fiona) February 16, 2022
Cambridge Stand Up To Racism massed outside the Corn Exchange on Wednesday as members of the public walked into the venue.
The group also chanted as the gig began while a group of drummers also made noise outside the doors of the venue.
In a statement prior to the gig, the group said: “Challenging these remarks is particularly important in Cambridge which hosts a Travellers community which often receives adverse publicity and verbal abuse.”
It comes after his jokes in the Netflix special His Dark Material sparked controversy.
In the clip, Carr said: “When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of 6 million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis.
“No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives.”
In the wake of the outrage, Cambridge City Council said the management of the comedian has pledged none of the content from the Netflix series will be used in the Corn Exchange show.
Leader of Cambridge City Council and Executive Councillor for Communities Anna Smith said: “I share the outrage felt by so many in Cambridge and beyond, regarding these unacceptable remarks. Genocide is not a subject for mockery.
“As a council, we are committed to working with and supporting marginalized communities, including our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. That is affirmed in our city’s equality pledge, which states our belief in the dignity of all people and their right to respect and equality of opportunity.”
His appearance at the Corn Exchange is a rescheduled appearance after the original date was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
The Standard has approached Jimmy Carr’s representatives for further comment.
Mr Carr has faced a backlash for the controversial joke.
Among the comments, Charity The Traveller Movement, who support the traveller community, said: “This is truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour.
“We need all your support in calling this out #StopTravellerHate @StopFundingHate.”
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added on Twitter: “These comments from Jimmy Carr are beyond tasteless.
“The targeting of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust is no laughing matter. Deeply offensive. I also don’t understand how this was aired @netflix.”
