Reuben Kaye had riled the Christian right

Australian comedian and cabaret star Reuben Kaye has been forced to pull out of the Sydney Comedy Festival because of threatened protests from offended Christians.

The performer said he could not guarantee the audience’s safety had the show at the Enmore Theatre gone ahead as planned tomorrow.

Kaye provoked the ire of the Christian right after appearing on primetime TV show The Project last month and making a joke about Jesus.

Speaking about the abuse he receives from religious bigots for being gay, he joked: ‘I think it’s hilarious when someone messages me and says you have to accept Jesus’s love or you will burn in hell - because I love Jesus. I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more!’

The comment caused outrage in some quarters, amplified by a tabloid press that quoted Charlie Bakhos of a group called Christian Lives Matter saying: ‘We have all had enough and this show last night crossed the line with the mocking of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone needs to stand united and we need to put a stop to all this.’

It is not known which group or groups had targeted Kaye’s show.

But last month, two men were arrested after LGBTQ+ rights supporters were attacked by what they described as ‘hundreds of far-right thugs’ as they protested a Christian Lives Matter-backed event attended by right-wing politician Mark Latham.

The virulently anti-gay group group has gone silent on social media since the clashes, which were broken up by riot police.

Before the event, one member of Christian Lives Matter reportedly posted a video saying of  the LGBTQ+ protestors: ‘There is only one way, and that is to grab them, and you drag them by their fucking hair, and you fucking get 'em out of there. Time to rise. Time to let them know where we stand.’

Announcing the postponement of his gig on social media, Kaye said: ‘Hey gang, you may have noticed that our show this week at the Enmore Theatre is postponed. Sorry, we had to do it.

‘There were some planned protests that meant it would be very complicated and difficult for me to guarantee the audience's safety, the other comedian’s safety, my safety, my band's safety, and even the safety of the businesses on Enmore Road.

‘So we've postponed the show to a later date this year where it's easier for us to do that for you. But don't worry, we'll be back and I'll see you at the next gig.’

The rescheduled gig will now take place on July 1.

Kaye has just completed a run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which passed without incident, and is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August with his raucous late-night cabaret show The Kaye Hole.

Fellow Australian comics were quick to express their support on Facebook.

Andrew McLelland called it ‘some awful bullshit’ and  said: ‘You’re taking the high road by not biting back. You’re loved.’

Janelle Koenig added: ‘You are doing the right thing for your audience, your team and yourself Reuben Kaye. Safety is paramount. So sorry it has come to this, but you are doing the right thing.

Two weeks ago, Christian Lives Matter backed an unauthorised protest in which around 30 men walked through a queer hub in Sydney, chanting the Hail Mary and trying to get into some of the LGBTQ+ venues.

Following the backlash to Kaye’s joke on The Project, the programme’s presenters issued an apology. Waleed Aly, who is Muslim, said: ‘We want to acknowledge the particular offence that caused our Muslim viewers but especially our Christian viewers. Obviously I understand just how profound that offence was.

'It's fair to say we weren't expecting a comment like that to be made. 'We wouldn't normally broadcast a comment like that. We acknowledge the offence it caused and more than that we're sorry.’

Co-host Sarah Harris added: ‘Live TV is unpredictable and when this happened in the last few moments of last night's show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn't a lot of time to react in any sort of considered way.’

Published: 27 Apr 2023