Taking on the trolls

David Baddiel has announced a new tour for 2020 - based on his experiences with online trolls.

While traditional advice is not to engage with the online trouble-makers, Baddiel says he sees them as ‘hecklers’ who need to be put down.

Promoters Avalon say: ‘Over the years, David has spent a lot of time doing this, which has led him to think that there might be a show in it: a show that would say something about how we live now. [He] has stories to tell, of the dark, terrible and hysterically absurd cyber-paths that interacting with trolls has led him down’.

In an interview with the New European last year, the comic said there were two reasons why he did not follow the received wisdom: Do Not Feed The Trolls.

He said: ‘The first is that it’s my job to tell jokes and to deal with abuse, and an online troll is, essentially, a heckler. Putting them down is part of what I do and I enjoy it… and it’s enjoyable for the audience.

‘You will come across some people who are extremely racist, and the things they say are really problematic, but you can deal with them by dragging their opinions into the light. When you are dragging them into the light, ridicule is your best weapon.

‘The other reason to do it, of course, is because not responding also doesn’t work.’

Baddiel admitted that responding to trolls was unlikely to change their mind, so ‘making fun of them is the best you can do’. But he said: ‘There may be a social purpose. When people are laughing, some of them might have been flirting with similar ideas, and might be shown just how ridiculous they are. So while the target of the ridicule might not change their minds, those laughing at him might.’

The 52-date tour is entitled Trolls: Not The Doll and follows his 2013 stand-up comeback  Fame: Not The Musical and his  Olivier-nominated My Family: Not The Sitcom

It kicks off in Swansea in January, and tickets went on sale this morning. Click here for the dates and the box-office links.

Published: 5 Jun 2019