Comedian Reginald D Hunter has found himself in hot water after accusations of anti-Semitic jokes during his Edinburgh Fringe show, “Fluffy Fluffy Beavers.” Two audience members, believed to be Israeli, objected to a joke comparing an abusive wife to “being married to Israel,” leading to heckling and further controversial remarks from Hunter.
The incident has sparked outrage from groups like Campaign Against Antisemitism, who criticized the comedian for his remarks. Hunter, known for pushing boundaries in his comedy, took to social media to apologize for the incident, stating that he is “staunchly anti-war and anti-bully” but acknowledges the divided opinions his humor can create.
The situation escalated further when audience members began hurling abuse at the Israeli couple, with one critic calling it the “most unpleasant comedy gig” they had ever attended. Police Scotland has confirmed they are investigating the incident, adding to the growing controversy surrounding the show.
This incident comes in the wake of other controversial moments at the Edinburgh Festival, including comedian Paul Currie’s confrontation with an audience member over a Palestine flag. With tensions running high, comedians are being reminded of their responsibility to their audience and the impact of their words on sensitive topics like anti-Semitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
