Reginald D Hunter in antisemitism storm

Israeli hecklers faced anti-Jewish jeers

Two Israeli audience members were booed out of Reginald D Hunter’s Edinburgh Fringe show in what one observer called ‘the most unpleasant comedy gig I’ve ever attended’.

The pair had heckled the comedian after he made a joke about Israel, which ended with the crowd allegedly yelling ‘genocidal maniac', ‘you’re not welcome’ and ‘free Palestine’ at the couple.

Daily Telegraph critic Dominic Cavendish was in the audience and accused the 55-year-old stand-up of ‘countenancing a mob mentality and purveying an anti-Semitic trope’.

In his review, Cavendish described Hunter talking about watching a TV documentary about an abusive marriage, and joking: ‘When I saw that, I thought, my God, it’s like being married to Israel.’

The couple then shouted out ‘not funny’, to which the American-born comic replied: ‘You can say it’s not funny to you, but if you say it to a room full of people who laughed, you look foolish.’

Things turned toxic after the pair revealed they were from Israel, with the woman remonstrating with the audience who were booing her. 'Look at you making everyone love Israel even more,’ Cavendish reported Hunter saying sarcastically.

And after the pair left, Hunter told the audience: ‘That tells me that I still got voltage.’

He also recalled trying to read a review of his act on he Jewish Chronicle website, saying: "Typical fucking Jews, they won’t tell you anything unless you subscribe.’

The show, entitled Fluffy Fluffy Beavers, took place in Assembly George Square. The venue said the were ‘aware of an audience member choosing to leave’ and said the front-of-house team ‘attended and supported’ them after they left.

Chortle has contacted Hunter’s representative for comment.

In February, Soho Theatre in London banned comedian Paul Currie after a Jewish audience member complained he was ‘hounded out’ of a show. The man had said he wasn't happy with the use of a Palestinian flag when asked why he wasn't joining in a standing ovation, prompting the audience to turn on him.

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Published: 13 Aug 2024