Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Something Else That Isn’t Even the Slightest Bit Antisemitic
Reported in the UK press:
Outrage as Jewish comedians’ Edinburgh Fringe shows cancelled ‘over staff safety concerns’
First, Simon and his fellow Jewish comic, Rachel Creeger, had their shows cancelled by the Whistle Binkies bar less than two weeks before the festival started. It was claimed that venue staff raised “safety concerns” as a result of the extra security put on amid the escalation of the war in the Middle East and the knock-on effect for British Jews. His run of gigs, Jew-O-Rama, is a showcase of different comics, while hers, Ultimate Jewish Mother, is an interactive stand-up show that has also played at the venue for years.
Then Simon had a second run of gigs, Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way?, axed by the neighbouring Banshee Labyrinth after its bosses trawled his social media profiles. It was decided that his attendance at a vigil for victims of the Hamas attacks of October 2023, and public calls for a return of the hostages taken into Gaza, were beyond the pale. He was told that “it is inappropriate for us to provide a platform for performers whose views and actions align with the rhetoric and symbology of groups associated with humanitarian violations”.
“Anyone who speaks to us will know that we are pro-peace, we’re pro-return of the hostages, we want Gazan civilians to be fed and thrive and achieve great things, and we want Israelis to do the same and everywhere in the whole world to be beautiful,” says Creeger. “We’re big old hippies.”
Posted by Steve Lubet on July 30, 2025 at 02:59 PM | Permalink
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