Comic appears to make light of massacre as he criticises Israel's response

Eshaan Akbar has been accused of mocking the victims of the October 7 terror attack as he drew attention to the civilian victims of Israel’s military response.

The comic appeared to trivialise the Hamas massacre in which 1,139 people died and around 250 were taken hostage as he referred to the incident as ‘something mad involving hummus and sausages’.

In a post on the first anniversary of the attack, he wrote on his Instagram Stories: ‘A year ago today, something mad happened involving hummus and sausages at a music festival that resulted in the self-defence against children and their families resulting in over 45,000 deaths that we in the UK massively helped with! Aren't we good guys? Big up US!’

And he followed it with a plug for his show at London’s Top Secret Comedy Club tonight.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised Monday’s post and said they would be taking it up with his agents.

A spokesperson said: ‘On the first anniversary of 7th October 2023 – the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust – Eshaan Akbar chose to mock the victims. To Mr Akbar, 7th October might be a laughing matter but to Jews and their allies, it is an ongoing trauma that will take a generation to recover from.

'He joins a growing list of comedians who prefer to use their platform to malign the world's only Jewish state than actually do their job and tell jokes. There’s only one joke here, and it’s Mr Akbar. We will be writing to his representation.’

The post also received condemnation on social media. Gimme Gimme Gimme star James Dreyfus called Akbar a ‘disgusting individual’, with another commentator said: ‘Where is your sense of dignity? Who started this war with murder, rape, slaughter…?’

Akbar was unavailable for comment,  but his agents Blue Book Artist Management said they ‘have been made aware of the social media post and we’re looking into it’. adding: ‘Blue Book is committed to the values of respect and tolerance for all.’

It follows accusations that Reginald D Hunter did little to discourage antisemitic barracking of audience members at his show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and similar complaints from a Jewish audience member that he felt ‘unsafe’ at a Paul Currie  show at the Soho Theatre.

Published: 9 Oct 2024