Comedian Jo Brand gives a half-hearted apology for ‘acid hurl’ joke but claims it wasn’t a ‘mistake’ and that she’s blameless
COMIC Jo Brand apologised for her acid hurl “joke” — then bizarrely tried to claim she was blameless. The leftie star, 61, faced a cop probe and anger from the PM over her comments. The outcry grew as it emerged the BBC had 22 days to edit her joke from Radio 4 show Heresy, pre-recorded […]
COMIC Jo Brand apologised for her acid hurl “joke” — then bizarrely tried to claim she was blameless.
The leftie star, 61, faced a cop probe and anger from the PM over her comments.
The outcry grew as it emerged the BBC had 22 days to edit her joke from Radio 4 show Heresy, pre-recorded on May 21.
Last night the episode was unavailable on its website and BBC Sounds app. Complaints to Ofcom rose from 19 to 65.
Brand had said yobs who hurled milkshakes at politicians such as Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage were “pathetic”.
She added: “I’m thinking why bother with milkshakes when you could get battery acid?”
Yesterday Brand, also a regular on the Beeb’s Have I Got News For You, kept silent as she left her £1.9million London home.
Later she told an audience in Henley, Oxon: “Looking back it probably was somewhat a crass and ill-judged joke that might upset people. Of course I’d never do anything like that. It was purely a fantasy. I’m sorry. I’m a human, I make mistakes.”
I’m thinking why bother with milkshakes when you could get battery acid?
Jo Brand
But she added: “I don’t think it’s a mistake. If you think it is I’m happy to accept that.”
And she went on: “Female politicians and public figures are threatened day in, day out, with far worse things than battery acid . . . rape, murder and what have you.
“At least I’m here and trying to explain what I did. I don’t think I have anyone to answer to. Nigel Farage wasn’t even mentioned by me on the night so why he has taken it upon himself I don’t know.”
Brand, hired by the Beeb as a freelance and paid via a production firm, added: “I’m not employed by the BBC, so how can they sack me?”
Joe Davies, 25, burned by drain cleaner in a 2017 attack, said: “It’s vile and unfunny. I’d like to meet her and describe what I went through.”
Mrs May called on BBC bosses to explain why the joke was deemed appropriate to broadcast.
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The Met said it received an incitement to violence allegation, and inquiries were continuing.
The BBC said: “We carefully considered the programme before broadcast. It was never intended to encourage or condone violence, and it does not do so, but we have noted the strong reaction to it.”
Producer Avalon was contacted for comment.
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