Cancel victim former MP slams Jewish comic's 'unlawful' fringe ban over Israel views
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry backed Philip Simon, who had planned to perform his stand-up show Shall I Compare Thee in a Funny Way at the capital's Banshee Labyrinth.
But the comic announced in an online post that the venue has informed him it cancelled his show as his views on the crisis in Gaza 'are in significant conflict' with its 'stance against the current Israeli government's policy and actions'.
It comes just days after another venue, Whistlebinkies, axed his Jew-O-Rama compilation show and another performance by fellow Jewish comedian Rachel Creeger due to concerns over 'staff safety'.
Writing on social media website X, KC Joanna Cherry, a former SNP MP, said: 'It's not ok for Fringe venues to cancel bookings for Jewish comedians because their staff allegedly feel 'unsafe'.
'Racial and belief discrimination is unlawful.'
In 2023, the outspoken former MP's event at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh was initially cancelled after staff claimed they were not comfortable with her stance on transgender issues.
She said she had been dropped for 'being a lesbian with gender-critical views'.
The club, owned by former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, backed down and reinstated her show after Ms Cherry began legal action over its 'unlawful and discriminatory' decision.
The Stand said it 'accept that the previous decision that the event could not go ahead was unfair and constituted unlawful discrimination against Ms Cherry'.
Yesterday Ms Cherry posted a link to the legal opinion which she said 'helped me fight my own cancellation two years ago'.
Ms Cherry and the Banshee Labyrinth were contacted for comment.
Earlier this week, Mr Simon said: 'Anyone who knows me will know I have never expressed support for anything other than freeing the hostages and finding a way for peace.
'It is sad to think that these views could conflict with anyone who wants to see a lasting peace in Gaza and Israel.
'As a Jewish person living in Britain it is possible, and increasingly common, to have a love for Israel without supporting the actions of the government.'
He added he was 'still processing the concept that in 2025 I can be cancelled just for being Jewish'.
The stand-up comic says he will still be at the festival for his one remaining children's show and is continuing to seek alternative venues for both his cancelled gigs.
And he urged any comics considering snubbing the venues 'not to do anything to jeopardise your own shows'.
He said: 'If you are going to Edinburgh....please do not boycott these venues, they are hosting some incredible acts who I wouldn't want to suffer negatively because of this.'
In a message to Mr Simon, the Banshee Labyrinth is reported to have said it felt it was '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.'
The venue told The Telegraph newspaper that it made its decision after scouring Mr Simon's social media pages.
The alleged concerns identified by the Banshee Labyrinth are reported to include Mr Simon sharing pictures from a vigil commemorating 100 days since the attack on Israel.
The Edinburgh Festival Fridge Society said it 'stands for freedom of expression' but that it does not 'manage or programme venues at the festival'.
A spokesman added: 'We understand that the show cancellations have been a choice made by the venue.'
The Banshee Labyrinth said it 'routinely screens bands and performers for affiliations to, and statements that advocate for, discriminatory groups, and our band bookings are caveated by a statement that any acts displaying rhetoric or symbology associated with discriminatory groups will be pulled with immediate effect'.
This 'applies to all performers, all year'.
It said: 'We have hosted Philip in previous years, and only thought we should have a look at his pages to see what was going on because of what happened with the neighbouring venue.
'If we hadn't found anything of concern, he would obviously still be performing with us.'
A spokesman for the venue said: 'Due to the recent controversy [Philip's show being pulled from our neighbouring pub], our management had a duty of care to our customers and staff members to review the political statements and opinions expressed by the performer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Antisemitism reports spiked day after Bob Vylan Glastonbury chants
Sentiment towards Israel is influencing and driving contemporary anti-Jewish discourse, the Community Security Trust (CST) said. The organisation, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said there were a total of 1,521 antisemitic incidents across the UK in the first half of this year. This is the second-highest total ever reported to the organisation in the first six months of any year but is down by a quarter from the record high of 2,019 incidents recorded between January and June last year. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said antisemitic incidents and crimes 'remain shamefully and persistently high'. There were at least 200 incidents every month in the first half of 2025, with the highest daily total at 26 incidents reported on June 29. This was a day after a performance by punk duo Bob Vylan at the world-renowned Glastonbury music festival in Somerset. During the set, which was livestreamed on BBC, rapper Bobby Vylan chanted 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. The CST said the incidents reported to the charity involved anti-Jewish responses to events at Glastonbury as well as to the CST's subsequent statement on X which had branded the chants 'utterly chilling'. Avon and Somerset Police said last month that inquiries were continuing in relation to the comments made onstage during Bob Vylan's performance. The second-worst day for what the CST described as 'anti-Jewish hate' was May 17 when 19 incidents were recorded – coming a day after Israel announced an expansion of its military operation in Gaza. Bob Vylan performing at Glastonbury Festival in June 2025 (Yui Mok/PA) The CST said: 'Both of these cases illustrate how sentiment and rhetoric towards Israel and Zionism influence, shape and drive contemporary anti-Jewish discourse, online and offline, often around totemic events that grab mainstream public attention.' Just over half (51%) of all incidents in the first half of this year 'referenced or were linked to Israel, Palestine, the Hamas terror attack (of October 7, 2023) or the subsequent outbreak of conflict', the CST said. This was a similar proportion to the same period last year, and up from 16% in the first six months of 2023, reflecting a rise in 'anti-Jewish hate in the UK when Israel is at war', the CST said. Mark Gardner, the organisation's chief executive, said the statistics demonstrated 'extreme levels of Jew-hatred, committed in the name of anti-Israel activism'. June saw the highest number of incidents, with 326 being recorded following heightening tensions in Gaza. A total of 76 violent anti-Jewish assaults were recorded by the charity in the first six months of 2025, including three categorised as 'extreme violence' that resulted in either grievous bodily harm or a threat to life. The CST added that 84 cases of damage and desecration of Jewish property were recorded, as well as 21 incidents of mass-produced antisemitic literature and 1,236 incidents of verbal or written abuse. The trust said 572 online incidents were reported to them in the first half of the year, accounting for 38% of the total and down 12% from the same period last year. Giving examples of the range of incidents reported, Mr Gardner, said: 'It involves racial hatred, yelled at Jewish schoolchildren, scrawled on synagogue walls and thrown at anyone who is Jewish, or suspected of being Jewish. 'In such difficult times, CST is proud to give strength to British Jews when they most need it. 'We thank those politicians and police officers who have supported our community, especially when Jew-hatred is effectively sanctioned in so many spaces that falsely claim to oppose all forms of racism.' There were 774 antisemitic incidents recorded by the CST in Greater London, a drop of 26% over the same timeframe in 2024, and 194 cases in Greater Manchester, a decrease of 28% compared to the previous year. Outside these cities, the police areas with the highest number of reports were West Yorkshire with 73, Hertfordshire with 52, Scotland with 36, Sussex with 32 and West Midlands with 39. Northern Ireland had nine reports while Suffolk was the only mainland police region not to record a single incident, the trust said. Ms Cooper said antisemitism 'has a profoundly damaging impact both on the individuals affected and the wider Jewish community', and vowed the Government 'remains steadfast in its commitment to root out the poison of antisemitism wherever it is found'. The Government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann, said the latest data shows 'that antisemitism continues to impact the British Jewish community at an unprecedented level'. He added: 'Antisemitism must be recognised by everyone as anti-Jewish racism and there must be a no tolerance approach to it across civil society at all levels.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Benjamin Netanyahu defies ex-army chiefs as he hints at new Gaza offensive despite calls to end war with Hamas
'We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas' CONQUER CALL Benjamin Netanyahu defies ex-army chiefs as he hints at new Gaza offensive despite calls to end war with Hamas Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at wider military action in Gaza despite former army and intelligence chiefs calling for the war to end. A security cabinet meeting was postponed last night amid mounting tensions about possible plans for a 'full occupation' of the battered Middle Eastern strip. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at a possible Gaza escalation despite calls to end the war with Hamas Credit: Getty Mr Netanyahu was said to be considering taking total control of the Palestinian-occupied territory to end the 22-month fight against Hamas. Senior Israeli military officials warned it could endanger the lives of captured hostages and further isolate the nation on the world stage. But local media reported Mr Netanyahu had already made up his mind, quoting an unnamed senior official saying: 'The die has been cast. 'We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas.' READ MORE WORLD NEWS SCHEME TRUMPED US deportees set for Rwanda hostel spruced up with £20m in UK taxpayer cash Previously, In a fiery address Sunday night, the Mr Netanyahu declared that Israel would press forward with a "decisive military victory" to free the remaining hostages. Netanyahu again vowed to crush Hamas, which he said was deliberately starving captives in scenes chillingly reminiscent of the Nazi death camps. Referencing horror hostage videos released by Hamas, he said: "You see them languishing in a dungeon, but the Hamas monsters surrounding them have thick, fleshy arms. "They have everything they need to eat. They are starving them, just as the Nazis starved the Jews." The footage — released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad last week and approved for publication by the families — shows the hostages visibly emaciated, trembling, and close to collapse. Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas
Edinburgh Reporter
3 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Fringe 2025 – Nancy's Philosopher
The play Nancy's Philosopher being staged by the Arkle Theatre Company, with Nicole Burnett Smith as Nancy Ord is on daily until 16 August at The Royal Scots Club. (not 10th) The story centres on a young woman who scandalised Edinburgh society by falling in love with the much older David Hume, historian and philosopher. David Black, the former journalist who write the play lives and works in Edinburgh. He said: 'In 2006 I was busy preparing an academic paper for a scholarly conference in London on a little known incident in the life of David Hume – his passionate relationship with Nancy Ord, daughter of Robert Ord, Baron of the Scottish Exchequer, whose Adam designed town house at 8 Queen Street still exists. Listen to our interview with David Black here Mr Black said: 'I thought this is a fantastic story, much too good for a bunch of academics. And I had seen an actress at the Edinburgh Fringe perform a play she'd written herself about Zelda Fitzgerald, and I was blown away by her skill. So I got in touch with her and asked, if she would you like me to write a play for her on the love life of the 18th century philosopher David Hume and his love life. And she was delighted to help out. 'So we had a play premiered at Summerhall initially, and it was pretty successful. It got a very good reviews. And then I let it lie for a while, and we revived it in 2019 and there were thoughts of it going over to New York, but covid came, and that was that. And then recently, I was approached by friend of mine with the Arkle Theatre Company, and they wanted to put it on. 'Now their production, in a way, has nothing to do with me, but they've been very kind consulting me, and he actually found an actress who was prepared to consider playing the part. It'll be a very different production. 'Unfortunately at around that time Hume's reputation was seriously impugned because, although he supported the abolition of slavery, he voiced a suspicion in a footnote which some have interpreted as racist. Edinburgh University then contentiously removed his name from the David Hume Tower in George Square. 'I had discussed writing a radio version of the play, but unfortunately the subject had become too toxic, so that was that – until this year as the play is on the Fringe.' The play is a love story although David Hume was already in his sixties when he met Nancy Ord daughter of the Baron of the Exchequer who lived at 8 Queen Street. A letter from David Hume to Nancy is used verbatim in the play and the writer is very pleased to have written the play in the voice of a woman. David Black said: 'In history we rarely get the voice of the woman apart from the odd one – such as Abigail Adams. It is very much a male preserve – so I thought I would write it in the voice of the woman.' Tickets here. Journalist David Black who wrote the play Like this: Like Related
