Comedian Russell Kane has warned the ‘woke brigade’ to stop moaning about jokes and believes Will Smith’s Oscars outburst will lead to more funnymen being attacked on stage.
The 46-year-old, who presents segments twice a week on Channel 4’s Bafta-nominated Steph’s Packed Lunch, vows comedy is alive and offending on stage – despite attempts to water it down.
He says: “It’s like going to a nudist beach and complaining because you saw a willy. As soon as you pay your money, you’ve consented for a theatrical exchange of boundary pushing – within the law.
“How absurd to go to a comedy gig and complain you got offended.
(Image: Getty Images for British Airways)
“The problem is when someone films it and puts it online, the people who haven’t consented see an edgy joke.
“I’m a people pleaser and like to be liked, but in the theatre if there was a gasp I would go over the top and start miming masturbation and go, ‘Shut up you b****’ and keep going because there’s consent there.”
(Image: Handout)
Russell expects his job to become harder after American comic Chris Rock was whacked by Best Actor winner Will at the Oscars in March for a gag about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head. Then last month a man with a replica gun charged and tackled David Chappelle at the Netflix Is A Joke festival in LA.
Before lockdown at a corporate gig a disgruntled audience member tried to punch him twice. Russell says: “It happened to me so I’m qualified to comment on it.
“What Will did was wrong and made my job harder.
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
“It’s given permission to drunks to punch some guy around the head.
“He was a d***head for what he did and deserves the ban but personally if I see a woman with no hair in the front row I’m not going to gamble that’s a fashion choice. If someone is crying the comedy has stopped for me.”
Russell has partnered with Nextdoor, the online community network, to front a comedic sketch to help get Brits excited for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next month.
The video, scripted by Russell, plays on our infamous British reservedness in a tongue-in-cheek way while showing how to invite neighbours to a royal knees-up in the local community over the extended Bank Holiday weekend from 2-5 th June.
He says: “The Jubilee is an excuse to knock on people’s doors, interact, have a street party or a cup of tea. Being British is like an osteoporosis that sits in your shoulders – you’re awkward, stiff and feel you want to fall down a hole if someone looks at you. I love the Royal family and am a patron of the Prince’s Trust.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
