So pleased Andrew mentioned The Producers. Humour has always been the stock in trade of the many brilliant Jewish comedians confronting appalling acts of anti-semitism.
Excellent as always Andrew. I grew up on Merseyside, and support LFC, but I haven’t had a humour bypass. Yes the joke was edgy, and maybe I’d have felt less able to laugh if there had been deaths, but I’m pretty certain Andrew Lawrence didn’t do a gag about Rudakubana’s victims because his crimes were so abhorrent. So Lawrence does have a sense of scale and decency.
Thank goodness he didn't mention Hillsborough! "Meltdown" would not have come near it.
*Are* they offended? Maybe it's just shame (leading too embarrassment, then leading to anger), because they know, deep down in their souls, that he speaks the truth...
I have to say I've seen far more offensive at the Backyard. Though now I come to think of it, that might have been Andrew Lawrence too 🤣
When I was in high school I used to listen to Barry Gray's late night interview show on my transistor radio in my bedroom where my parents couldn't hear it. One night Barry had on Lenny Bruce who had followed two powerful NYC pols on that night's show - one black and one Hispanic. This was during the fiery US civil rights era and, yeah, he went right there with his first joke. More than 60 years later I can still make people cringe when I repeat that joke.
Well said Andrew, I’m pretty sure there are many who are just looking for any excuse to vent their inbuilt anger they inherently carry. They just need to get a life
Why did he have to say this? Its cheap laughs. It's not clever, nor particularly funny in my view - and I like dark humour, believe me - but clever and dark.
How many people need to be traumatised before a joke is not acceptable?
Is the Mancheser arena bombing a suitable topic for comedy too? Another, more tragic, situation where people were happy and enjoying themselves before something horribly violent occurred.
In this debate there is always the option to be measured, and not say it just because you can.
As Stephen Fry would say, “You’re offended? So fucking what!”
As you stated well Andrew, don’t buy a ticket. Don’t go. Or, as logic would have it, realise it is a joke and let it go. No pressure to laugh at jokes you don’t find funny.
Secondly, jokes like this let us release the horrificness (is that a word?) of a tragic situation. The Liverpool mess was horrific. There is nothing we humans can do now. Lawrence made a quirky joke to realise this and we need to move along.
The joke was terrible and very bad timed. But it also was funny in a dark-humor-type of way - if you like that type of humor. It was also a JOKE which, surely should not be too hard for comedy clubs to understand. Finally - you don't like it - don't watch him.
Coming from Liverpool I’m used to the line ‘what do you call a scouser in a suit?” Answer: “the accused”. Since I live in Manchester my response to the person who asked the question is to to say ‘and what do you call a pretty girl in Manchester?” Answer: “a tourist”. All good friendly banter…. Or grounds for offence to be taken. I know why I’d choose.
It reminds me that when 9/11 happened jokes around that disaster wern’t considered offensive, for example, why did the planes crash into the Twin Towers? Answer: somebody had left the landing lights on.
“Black” Humour has been around for millennia only the subject matter changes to reflect the latest disaster, but there’s nothing new in the set-up of the gag.
So what if someone makes a tasteless joke? Or even an extra-tasteless joke? If we’re lucky it’s a genius like Lenny Bruce. But the harm in the world is not caused by jokes.
This is a spectacular piece and so on point. It is one of the basic tenets of comedy to push boundaries and make people uncomfortable. There's a place for cosy comedy, of course, but there also needs to be the type of comedy that makes us confront our biases, our assumptions and our flaws. The Monty Python guys got that. A plethora of other comedians get that. And with each generation of such comedy, there are critics who shake their fists and complain. Sometimes it's the leaders of organised religions, and sometimes it's the tribal woke, or the snowflakes.
I'm always quoting the wonderful Steve Hughes, who says, "What's wrong with being offended? Nothing happens... You don't get leprosy." I'm paraphrasing. It's a great skit.
So pleased Andrew mentioned The Producers. Humour has always been the stock in trade of the many brilliant Jewish comedians confronting appalling acts of anti-semitism.
Andrew, I think you owe vegetables an apology. Lots of vegetables of my acquaintance are more intelligent than these people appear to be.
Excellent as always Andrew. I grew up on Merseyside, and support LFC, but I haven’t had a humour bypass. Yes the joke was edgy, and maybe I’d have felt less able to laugh if there had been deaths, but I’m pretty certain Andrew Lawrence didn’t do a gag about Rudakubana’s victims because his crimes were so abhorrent. So Lawrence does have a sense of scale and decency.
This is just too good Andrew.
A masterclass in how to think!
I refuse to be offended.
If somebody deliberately says something offensive they are trying to make me react in some way so I refuse to rise to the bait.
If somebody accidentally says something offensive they didn't mean it so why should I be angry with them.
Offence is taken and we don't have to take it.
Thank goodness he didn't mention Hillsborough! "Meltdown" would not have come near it.
*Are* they offended? Maybe it's just shame (leading too embarrassment, then leading to anger), because they know, deep down in their souls, that he speaks the truth...
I have to say I've seen far more offensive at the Backyard. Though now I come to think of it, that might have been Andrew Lawrence too 🤣
Just joined your Substack Andrew.
Always been a big fan of your honourable work on GB News and subsequently on defending LGB and women’s rights.
Anyway, last week’s incident in Liverpool made me think about the response within their great passion, football.
Over many years,if not still now. Liverpool fans have mimicked the Munich air disaster whilst Man U fans have mocked Hillsborough
during their confrontations.
A song came to my devilish mind.for all opposition supporters.
The Beatles ‘Drive my Car’ - ‘beep beep, beep beep, yeah’
Just a thought.
When I was in high school I used to listen to Barry Gray's late night interview show on my transistor radio in my bedroom where my parents couldn't hear it. One night Barry had on Lenny Bruce who had followed two powerful NYC pols on that night's show - one black and one Hispanic. This was during the fiery US civil rights era and, yeah, he went right there with his first joke. More than 60 years later I can still make people cringe when I repeat that joke.
Well said Andrew, I’m pretty sure there are many who are just looking for any excuse to vent their inbuilt anger they inherently carry. They just need to get a life
I basically agree with you Andrew, as always.
But...
Why did he have to say this? Its cheap laughs. It's not clever, nor particularly funny in my view - and I like dark humour, believe me - but clever and dark.
How many people need to be traumatised before a joke is not acceptable?
Is the Mancheser arena bombing a suitable topic for comedy too? Another, more tragic, situation where people were happy and enjoying themselves before something horribly violent occurred.
In this debate there is always the option to be measured, and not say it just because you can.
As Stephen Fry would say, “You’re offended? So fucking what!”
As you stated well Andrew, don’t buy a ticket. Don’t go. Or, as logic would have it, realise it is a joke and let it go. No pressure to laugh at jokes you don’t find funny.
Secondly, jokes like this let us release the horrificness (is that a word?) of a tragic situation. The Liverpool mess was horrific. There is nothing we humans can do now. Lawrence made a quirky joke to realise this and we need to move along.
Thank you for the introduction to this hilarious and daring jester 🤓👍
The joke was terrible and very bad timed. But it also was funny in a dark-humor-type of way - if you like that type of humor. It was also a JOKE which, surely should not be too hard for comedy clubs to understand. Finally - you don't like it - don't watch him.
Coming from Liverpool I’m used to the line ‘what do you call a scouser in a suit?” Answer: “the accused”. Since I live in Manchester my response to the person who asked the question is to to say ‘and what do you call a pretty girl in Manchester?” Answer: “a tourist”. All good friendly banter…. Or grounds for offence to be taken. I know why I’d choose.
It reminds me that when 9/11 happened jokes around that disaster wern’t considered offensive, for example, why did the planes crash into the Twin Towers? Answer: somebody had left the landing lights on.
“Black” Humour has been around for millennia only the subject matter changes to reflect the latest disaster, but there’s nothing new in the set-up of the gag.
So what if someone makes a tasteless joke? Or even an extra-tasteless joke? If we’re lucky it’s a genius like Lenny Bruce. But the harm in the world is not caused by jokes.
This is a spectacular piece and so on point. It is one of the basic tenets of comedy to push boundaries and make people uncomfortable. There's a place for cosy comedy, of course, but there also needs to be the type of comedy that makes us confront our biases, our assumptions and our flaws. The Monty Python guys got that. A plethora of other comedians get that. And with each generation of such comedy, there are critics who shake their fists and complain. Sometimes it's the leaders of organised religions, and sometimes it's the tribal woke, or the snowflakes.
I'm always quoting the wonderful Steve Hughes, who says, "What's wrong with being offended? Nothing happens... You don't get leprosy." I'm paraphrasing. It's a great skit.