Victim of 'antisemitism' row

The row over Tommy Tiernan’s 'anti-semitic' comments has cost him a Canadian tour.

He had been due to perform as part of the 20-city Just For Laughs tour, promoted by the organisers of the Montreal comedy festival, starting this month.

However, since the storm over his comments calling Jews ‘Christ killing bastards’ and saying he would have got ’10 or 12 million’ out of the holocaust, he will not now be hitting the road.

In a statement, the tour promoters said ‘Just For Laughs respects Tommy Tiernan who has been one of the most popular comedians to perform at our festivals and on tour.

‘After speaking with him over the last week, we agreed that it was in the best interest of everyone involved that he withdraws from the 2009 tour.’

Tiernan told Just For Laughs he regretted the controversy around the comments, made during a Q&A at The Electric Picnic festival in Ireland. Politicians and churchmen have since condemned the tirade.

But Tiernan said he was parodying extremism and believes his remarks were taken ‘so far out of context that I am quite bewildered’.

At the time the row erupted, he said: ‘The things that I said in front of a live audience were in an attempt to explain my belief that one of the duties of the comic performer is to be reckless and irresponsible and that the things that they say should NEVER be taken out of context. While it is out of context, which it most definitely is now, it seems callous cruel and ignorant’.

Despite Tiernan’s absence, the tour – which also features Scottish comic Danny Bhoy – will continue as planned. His replacement will be announced shortly.

Published: 12 Oct 2009