Latest news with #BansheeLabyrinth
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Cancel victim former MP slams Jewish comic's 'unlawful' fringe ban over Israel views
A Jewish comedian who claimed he was axed by an Edinburgh Fringe venue over his views on Gaza has won the support of a leading KC. 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 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.
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘I've had death threats': Why Edinburgh Fringe isn't safe for Jews
Edinburgh's Niddry Street comes alive during the city's annual Fringe festival. Like so many roads in the heart of the Scottish capital, punters pack into bars and clubs on the narrow thoroughfare just off the Royal Mile to see everything from stand-up comedy and musical theatre to university student productions and improvisation. Comedian Philip Simon has performed there for the past few years; so much so that, on his posters for this year's festival, he described his shows as 'staples of Niddry Street'. Events of the past week, however, mean that Simon's promotional material is now out of date – and he has no desire to go anywhere near the venues at which he has previously had such a good time. 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. Neither show is political, or about the Israel-Hamas war. But they are the only shows with 'Jew' in the title, and the only ones cancelled by Whistle Binkies this year. 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'.
The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh Fringe venue responds after cancelling pro-Israel comedian
Banshee Labyrinth, on the capital's Niddry Street, responded to allegations made by the pro-Israel comic Philip Simon after the cancellation of a run of his shows this August. Simon said in a statement on social media that his solo show – Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way – had been dropped by the venue, who cited 'views concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine [which] are in significant conflict with our venue's stance against the current Israeli government's policy and actions'. READ MORE: Donald Trump casts doubt on Israeli claims of 'no starvation in Gaza' The comic said he had 'never expressed support for anything other than freeing the hostages and finding a path for peace', and claimed he had been 'cancelled just for being Jewish'. Simon's announcement won support from other comedians, including Scottish circuit regular Mark Nelson, who called it a 'shocking decision', and KC Adam Wagner, who said the situation 'sounds potentially unlawful'. Responding, Banshee Labyrinth told industry magazine Chortle that they 'obviously have not declined [Simon's] show because of his religious or cultural identity', adding: 'Philip has performed with us before.' The venue said that routine checks for support of 'rhetoric or symbology associated with discriminatory groups' had raised concerns, both around Simon's social media output and comments he has made on podcasts. Social media posts on Simon's profile on Twitter/X were cited as reasons for the cancellation. Hey there UK performers' union @EquityUK, how is this even close to your remit? Why aren't you using our subs to campaign for domestic issues that actually directly affect your members. Take an international stand when it affects actors if you want but this campaign isn't that! — Philip Simon - Stand Up Comedian (@PhilipsComedy) January 15, 2025 Chortle reported that these posts included one positive response to an AI-generated image of a lion waving an Israeli flag urging 'pro-Israel' accounts to engage, and another post describing the release of 1800 Palestinians as part of a ceasefire deal as a 'sickening ratio'. Other posts which remain live on Simon's social media show him questioning why the trade union Equity UK – which he quit in November 2024 claiming it had put an 'antisemitic international position ahead of their domestic membership' – would support a march to 'end the genocide' and 'stop arming Israel'. The Banshee Labyrinth is part of PBH's Free Fringe, which sees acts perform for tips rather than sell tickets. Chortle reported that, informing the organisers of the cancellation, the venue had said: 'Due to the recent controversy, our management had a duty of care to our customers and staff members to review the political statements and opinions expressed by the performer. READ MORE: Israel 'using Hamas as pretext to commit genocide', leading Israel rights group says 'We found that the views concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine expressed by the performer are in significant conflict with our venue's stance against the current Israeli government's policy and actions. 'We feel 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.' The reference to 'recent controversy' was to the cancellation of another run of Simon's Fringe shows, at Whistlebinkies, also on Niddry Street. Another Jewish comedian, Rachel Creeger, also had her show at Whistlebinkies cancelled after staff raised concerns of feeling 'unsafe', Jewish News first reported. PBH Free Fringe chief executive Luke Meredith said: 'The decision not to host the two shows was taken by the venue alone. So far as we understand, this was a staff decision based on last year's experience when they experienced a significant rise in both 'Free Palestine' and Zionist graffiti, together with police notices that they said made them feel unsafe.' File photo of Jewish comedian Rachel CreegerSimon had been due to host 'Jew-O-Rama' at the venue – a variety show of Jewish performers which was set for its ninth year. Creeger was to perform a show called 'Ultimate Jewish Mother'. After the cancellation, Simon said: 'Our show is about fun and comedy, not geopolitics. It is disheartening to find out so late in the day that we have lost our venue. 'I've already ordered the fliers and posters, and filled over 80 slots with comedians who will now all lose work. 'Not only has this cost money and taken a huge amount of time, but more than that, it is hurtful that instead of reassuring the young bar staff who raised concerns, the solution was to remove the Jews from the bill. 'This is emblematic of the problem facing Jewish artists and performers in the UK today.' READ MORE: Keir Starmer cuts off Donald Trump after 'trade deal should favour Scotland' remark Writing in Jewish News, Creeger addressed the Whistlebinkies cancellations by saying: 'They could have reached out to us directly – our working relationship goes back to 2018 – but they didn't and still haven't. 'They could have used the CST [Community Security Trust] contact provided and asked for some training around the subject, but they chose not to. 'Instead, our lovely shows, that are not about politics or the war, were left homeless with 2 weeks to go and everything bought and paid for.' She added: 'But both Philip and I are not victims, we are experienced performers. We will dust ourselves off, and whether or not another venue turns up, this will become part of our story and in time, comedy material.'
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
The real reason two Jewish comedians had their Edinburgh shows canned
Two Jewish comedians have had shows cancelled by venues hosting the Edinburgh Fringe. Whistlebinkies told Rachel Creeger that she and her show Ultimate Jewish Mother were no longer welcome, while Philip Simon's Jew-O-Rama, a rotating line-up of Jewish comedians, was also barred. Another venue, Banshee Labyrinth, followed suit, cancelling Simon's solo show, Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way? The reason? 'Safety concerns' for staff. Those of us with the Jewish mothers of Creeger's title can certainly understand why others might have concerns over our mental safety, but I don't think that's quite what the venues had in mind when they banned a Jewish son and a Jewish daughter. You don't have to be a comedian or an expert in decoding sophistry to understand what's going on here. You just have to have a basic knowledge of history, because it's what has been going on for millennia. Jews have been banned for being Jews. Here we go again. They can dress it up in any drivel about health and safety they want, but when you translate 'concerns over staff safety' into reality it means, 'Jews are banned unless they manage to sneak in because no one has realised they are Jews'. The excuses used by the venues to justify the bans gave the game away. Creeger was told it was because of a supposed 'vigil for IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers'. The only problem with that is that there was no such vigil in either of their shows. As Creeger – an Orthodox Jew, who is open about that in her act – said at the weekend: 'They initially said that they believed we'd held a vigil for an IDF soldier, a fallen soldier, which is a thing that just hadn't ever happened in either of our shows. The shows are not political, we're not political performers and the IDF is not a relevant subject in either show. They later withdrew that and said they understood that that didn't actually happen.' Simon added that the venue had trawled his social media and then told him that his 'views concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine…are in significant conflict with our venue's stance against the current Israeli government's policy and actions.' But just as the objection to Creeger was spurious, so with Simon: 'I have never expressed support for anything other than freeing the hostages and finding a way for peace…I've never posted about the Israeli government. I've posted about the situation because we're all horrified about what's going on in the Middle East but there's been nothing positive that I put out really about the Israeli government.' It could hardly be more blatant: two Jews have been cancelled because they are Jewish. The rest is noise. The fact that neither Creeger nor Simon have expressed anything other than a desire for peace and freedom for the hostages is irrelevant, because one of the strongest lessons of Jewish history is that they come for the 'good' Jews too. It doesn't matter if you think you're behaving as they want you to behave: in their eyes, all that matters is that you're a Jew. Politicians are wont to repeat the phrase, 'There is no place for antisemitism in [add the name of a city or country]'. In reality, however, in Britain in 2025 there is every place for antisemitism. Always and everywhere.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Jewish comedian barred from Fringe venue for attending Oct 7 vigil
A Jewish comedian has been cancelled by an Edinburgh Fringe venue after attending a vigil for victims of the October 7 attacks. Philip Simon was barred from the Banshee Labyrinth pub because of alleged 'rhetoric and symbology' linked to Israel. One reason cited by the venue for cancelling his show, Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way?, was his attendance at a vigil held for people killed in the 2023 Hamas terror attacks. In a message to Simon, Banshee Labyrith said: 'Our management had a duty of care to our customers and staff members to review the political statements and opinions expressed by the performer. 'We feel 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.' Simon said the only opinion he had expressed on the Gaza conflict was a desire for peace and to see the hostages freed. He said: 'I am still processing the concept that in 2025 I can be cancelled just for being Jewish. In the meantime, I will still be at the Fringe for my one remaining children's show and continue to investigate possible alternative venues for both of my cancelled shows.' Banshee Labyrinth told The Telegraph that it arrived at its decision after scouring Simon's social media pages. It said: 'We routinely screen bands and performers for affiliations to, and statements that advocate for, discriminatory groups. '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 [a related row at] the neighbouring venue. 'If we hadn't found anything of concern he would obviously still be performing with us.' The alleged concerns identified by Banshee Labyrinth include Simon sharing pictures from a vigil commemorating 100 days since the attack on Israel; a message on his X account saying that it was powerful to 'stand strong against terror'; and a post warning that Oct 7 rape victims were being forgotten. Several others messages the venue objected to were variations on calls to 'bring home the hostages', while others made fun of Greta Thunberg's short-lived effort to travel by flotilla to Gaza. Banshee Labyrinth said its decision to cancel the show came after a row involving a nearby venue, Whistlebinkies, which has cancelled shows by Mr Simon and fellow comedian Rachel Creeger. Ms Creeger was set to perform her show Ultimate Jewish Mother, while Mr Simon was due to host a Jew-O-Rama of Jewish comedic talents. The acts claimed they were informed that their gigs would be cancelled after bar staff at the venue expressed fears of feeling 'unsafe'. It has been claimed that concerns were raised after an announcement that the venue would receive extra police supervision amid continued worries over the safety of Jewish acts. 'We are being silently boycotted' Ms Creeger said: 'Sadly, this is part of an ongoing problem faced by Jewish performers in this country. We are being cancelled and often silently boycotted.' The pair said they were informed on July 18 that their shows would not be going ahead. It is understood there had been plans to swap venues so they could still perform but it was too late to make these arrangements. Their shows no longer appear on the Edinburgh Fringe listings website. The Fringe, and comedy more broadly, has become embroiled in several controversies relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. At the Fringe in 2024, two Israeli audience members were booed out of Reginald D Hunter's comedy gig after they objected to a joke comparing the Jewish state to an abusive spouse. Mr Hunter then had several gigs cancelled and later appeared in court over alleged anti-Semitic social media posts. There will be a hearing in November to decide whether the private prosecution brought against him will go ahead. Earlier in 2024, the comedian Paul Currie was banned from a West End theatre after the venue said he had been 'subjecting Jewish audience members to verbal abuse'. Soho Theatre consulted police following an incident in which he allegedly pulled out a Palestinian flag and shouted at an Israeli audience member to 'get the f--- out of here' before leading chants of 'Palestine will be free'. The theatre investigated and then banned Mr Currie for what it termed 'appalling' intimidation.
