The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) expresses deep disappointment and outright rejection of Reginald D Hunter’s so-called “apology” regarding the antisemitic incident at his Edinburgh Fringe show on Sunday night. His statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, is nothing more than a weak attempt to deflect responsibility for what was a blatant display of antisemitism.
Hunter’s so-called apology, which he disguised as a half-hearted regret over the “stress caused,” fails to address the core issue: the normalisation of antisemitism under the guise of comedy. By dismissing the incident as merely an unfortunate event in his boundary-pushing performance, Hunter trivialises the lived experiences of Jewish people and the trauma inflicted upon the Israeli couple who were hounded out of his show.
In his statement, Hunter claims to be “anti-war and anti-bully,” yet his actions speak otherwise. Allowing an audience to jeer, heckle, and bully two individuals simply for their Israeli nationality is not only deeply unprofessional but also morally reprehensible. This is not about divided opinions or boundary-pushing humour; it is about the use of a public platform to propagate hate and further inflame antisemitic sentiments.
The NJA condemns the Edinburgh Fringe organisers for their lack of action in the face of this disgraceful incident. The Fringe’s commitment to “creative freedom of expression” should never be an excuse for hate speech or the marginalisation of any community. The fact that Hunter felt emboldened to make such vile comments and then offer an insincere apology only highlights the failure of the Fringe’s organisers to foster a safe and respectful environment.
NJA Managing Director, Gary Mond, stated: “Reginald D Hunter’s so-called apology is nothing more than a pitiful attempt to save face after being caught inciting hate. This is not about humour or free speech; it is about the fundamental respect and dignity that every human being deserves. We demand that the Edinburgh Fringe take stronger action against Hunter and any performer who uses their platform to spread bigotry and intolerance.”
The NJA calls on all organisations and individuals to stand against this growing tide of antisemitism, including when it manifests under the guise of comedy.
