Anthony Jeselnik under fire

The family of a man killed in a shark attack have registered their disgust at a comedian’s song-and-dance celebration over his death.

Anthony Jeselnik staged a ‘shark party’ during his US Comedy Central show The Jeselnik Offensive last night, which featured lapdancing girls dressed as sharks.

He introduced the piece by showing news stories about the death of Adam Strange, a father who died after being attacked by a bronze whaler and Great White Shark off the New Zealand cost two weeks ago.

‘Was he killed?’ Jeselnik asked his audience. ‘You bet your sweet ass he was killed – and he had a family and everything!’

The song pointed out how many sharks humans kill and said: ‘When a shark kills a man, you’ve got to give thanks.’

After an actor playing a bloodied surfer joined the dance, Jeselnik said: ‘Let’s not forget the man who who made it all possible...’ and posted a picture of Strange with his date of birth an death on the screen behind him.

But lifeguard Tim Jago, speaking on behalf of the family, said: ‘It is absolutely disgusting and abhorrent. There is no humour at all in it.’

He added that if the item had been trying to make a point about exploitation of sharks, it misfired, adding: ‘Mr Strange and family and friends are all sea people; they know about sharks and their place in the ocean. They would never have exploited sharks.’

Mr Strange, a 46-year-old father of a young daughter, had waved and called for help as the shark dragged him underwater 200 yards off Muriwai beach, to the horror of witnesses. Lifeguards and police battled to save him, but in vain.

Here is the offending sketch:

Published: 13 Mar 2013