Wow, a comedian I used to like has lost the plot - warning: anti-Semitic bile

[Jackeens]

Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan is no stranger to controversy but his comments about Jews in front of a clapping and laughing audience at the recent Electric Picnic festival crossed a new line and are sure to provoke outrage in Ireland's Jewish community.

The 40-year-old prefaced his outburst by saying that what happened on a comedy stage was "about allowing whatever lunacy is inside you to come out in a special protected environment where people know that nothing they say is being taking seriously".

He then continued: "But these Jews, these f**king Jew c**ts come up to me. F**king Christ-killing bastards. F**king six million? I would have got 10 or 12 million out of that. No f**king problem! F**k them. Two at a time, they would have gone. Hold hands, get in there. Leave us your teeth and your glasses."

There's more of this stuff in the article: http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/sep/20/six-million-i-would-have-got-10-or-12-million-out-/



This guy has made a career out of offending all kinds of sensibilities, he regularly targets the Catholic church, for example, but he used to do it in a humourous way. What the **** is witty, incisive or insightful about this stuff?

But there are people defending him, eg:

"It's obvious that Tommy is taking the piss," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes comments. "If you see or read it in context, there is a comment in there about people who are fanatical, and who can't take a joke. But to interpret it as anti-Semitism is wrongheaded in the extreme. The way I see it, he is satirising anti-Semitism, while making a more general point that we should all be able to laugh at ourselves."

http://www.hotpress.com/Tommy%20Tiernan/news/Storm%20erupts%20over%20Tommy%20Tiernan%27s%20Hot%20Press%20Chatroom%20interview/5829623.html



Seriously, am I missing something? This just sounds like hate speech to me.

What's depressing is the general view that he's destroyed his career in North America (he's touring Canada soon and is doing a couple of shows in Los Angeles) - I'd like to think he's destroyed his career everywhere. :shrug:

[supernova]

1. I wonder what makes people

explode like that?

:shrug:

They go along for years, seemingly well-balanced, with malice toward none, then one day... WHAM! It's like they can't help but say every rotten thing they've been holding in for the last 20 years.

:wtf:

[Jackeens]

3. I'm wondering too.

I could understand where his anti-Catholic stuff came from because he had a miserable time in Catholic schools and used his routines to lash out, but this is just bizarre. If he had been mocking anti-Semitism and using this stuff to make fun of it then, okay - but he wasn't. I'm just flippin' astounded by it.

[monmouth]

2. Me too, and as a descendant of Irish emigres, I'm embarrassed...n/t

[KansDem]

4. Sounds like he had a "Michael Richards" moment...nt

[Javaman]

7. Same thought here. He pulled a "Richards". nt

[KittyWampus]

5. I'd have to see the whole routine. Apparently he is INTENTIONALLY CHANNELING FANATICS

so how or why you don't get that escapes me.

[Jackeens]

6. Here you go KittyWampus - link:

http://www.hotpress.com/Tommy%20Tiernan/news/Storm%20erupts%20over%20Tommy%20Tiernan%27s%20Hot%20Press%20Chatroom%20interview/5829623.html

From 27:48


So, you get it? Cool, good for you. :hi:

[MilesColtrane]

8. There are ways of giving a satirical response when questioned if you are a anti-Semite.

This isn't it.

(What's worse, it's not funny.)