Latest news with #NaziSalute
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Scientific': Actor to fight Nazi salute charge on mathematics of arm angle
An Australian actor will challenge what exactly constitutes a Nazi salute as he fights a criminal accusation levelled against him. Damien Richardson's lawyer said what exactly equalled a Nazi salute was 'scientific' and 'mathematical', including the gesture-maker's arm angle and finger arrangement. Mr Richardson, an actor from some of Australia's most successful serial dramas, appeared in the Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. He will challenge the definitions of the Nazi salute-banning laws, which took effect in Victoria in late 2023. 'It's a single issue as to the interpretation of the law,' defence lawyer Peter Monagle said in court. 'There seems to be some sort of mathematical formula about the arm and whether the fingers are together.' In court on Tuesday, the charge was also amended. Mr Richardson is now charged with did intentionally perform a Nazi gesture by performing a Nazi salute, or a gesture that so resembles a Nazi salute, that it is likely to be confused with or mistaken for a Nazi salute whilst knowing that the gesture is a Nazi gesture and the performance of the gesture occurred in a public place. The case has been scheduled for a two-day contested hearing in November when the prosecution will look to call an expert on what constitutes a Nazi salute. Mr Richardson and his lawyer asked for a sentencing indication from the magistrate this week, which was refused. The police also refused a push for a diversion sentence, which would have meant Mr Richardson avoided a conviction. Mr Monagle also raised the case of Victoria's first Nazi salute conviction – an act Jacob Hersant committed in front of media – when discussing a sentence indication. Hersant is appealing. Mr Monagle also said that a Victoria Police sergeant was not charged for making the salute 'at the police academy two days in a row', though the defence lawyer quickly retracted the statement when magistrate Luisa Bizzani cut him off. 'It was a gesture that was made without thought to what the ramifications could be,' Mr Monagle said of his client's alleged act. Ms Bizzani also rebuffed this point, saying Mr Richardson's statement to police showed he 'knew he could be fined or jailed'. Prosecution lawyer Nicholas La Mattina said the defence conceded 'it was a Nazi gesture but not a Nazi salute'. The court was told the event at which Mr Richardson allegedly committed the act was livestreamed, and the two-hour recording would be played at the November court date. Another person spoke at the event, and Mr Richardson's lawyer wants the other speaker's section cut from the evidential video so as not to prejudice his case. Outside court, Mr Richardson declined to comment to NewsWire. Mr Monagle reiterated his point about what constitutes a salute. 'I didn't know there were scientific facts involved in this, but we'll see what he says' the lawyer said, referencing the prosecution expert. Mr Richardson had a recurring role on Australian television show Neighbours from 2014 to 2020. He also acted in Blue Heelers, McLeod's Daughters and Wentworth. Without an acting credit to his name since 2021, Mr Richardson unsuccessfully ran for politics in 2022. At the state election that year, he ran for the right-wing Freedom Party. He contested a federal senate seat as an independent. In 2023, the Victorian government criminalised Nazi symbols and gestures. The ban took effect in October of that year. Displaying the Nazi swastika was already illegal before the new laws, but the reform banned further symbols, including the salute. Hersant, a Victorian neo-Nazi, performed the salute on courthouse steps in front of media cameras less than a week after the laws took effect. He was sentenced to a month in prison but is appealing.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Posts claim Trump gave 'Nazi salute' at Fourth of July fireworks. Here's what we know
Claim: A video authentically shows U.S. President Donald Trump giving a "Nazi salute" at the White House 2025 Fourth of July fireworks gathering. Rating: Context: While the video was authentic and unaltered, Trump's gestures did not align with a common definition of the "Nazi salute." A rumor that circulated online in early July 2025 claimed a video showed U.S. President Donald Trump giving a "Nazi salute" at the White House's Fourth of July fireworks gathering. The clip showed Trump blowing a kiss and moving his right arm to his right, then blowing a second kiss with his hand raised in a wave to the gathered crowd. For example, a TikTok video (archived) with more than 333,000 views featured the caption, "Everyone was talking about the kiss but that's not what I was shocked by…" The same user also reposted the video (archived) to respond to a user who initially believed someone created the clip with an artificial-intelligence tool. Other users shared the same video on Facebook (archived), Reddit (archived) and X (archived), including with captions calling Trump's gestures either a "Nazi salute" or "Seig Heil." Additional commenters also suggested someone created the clip with AI. However, again, the video — an unedited clip — simply showed Trump blowing two kisses to the crowd gathered for the Fourth of July fireworks celebration at the White House. "Tales of Hi and Bye," a book by Torbjörn Lundmark about customs surrounding greetings and farewells describes a Nazi salute, also referred to as a "Roman salute," as follows: "The Roman salute is made by thrusting the right arm forward, palm facing downwards, at an angle of around 45 degrees" (archived). Neither of Trump's two gestures aligned with that description. A White House spokesperson told Snopes of the users claiming Trump gave Nazi salutes, "This is obviously not true." The New York Post broadcast a live video on YouTube during the fireworks celebration. The in-question moment occurs at the 9:30 mark: Trump's blown kisses greatly differed from tech billionaire and former White House adviser Elon Musk's firm gesture given twice in front of an Inauguration Day gathering in January, in which users claimed his arm movements amounted to Nazi salutes. Musk accompanied his gestures with the words, "Thank you. My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured, thanks to you." At the time, some users falsely claimed pictures showed politicians belonging to the Democratic Party also displaying Nazi salutes, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, as well as former President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris. An examination of each of those cases found users presented those images out of context. Ibrahim, Nur. "No, These Politicians Did Not Make the Same Gesture as Elon Musk." Snopes, 25 Jan. 2025, Liles, Jordan. "Did Musk Give 'Nazi Salute' at Trump's 2025 Inauguration Rally? Here's What We Know." Snopes, 21 Jan. 2025, "Live: President Trump and Melania Trump Watch Fireworks from White House Balcony." YouTube, New York Post, 4 Jul. 2025, Lundmark, Torbjörn. "Hi, Hitler! Arm Salutes at Various Angles." Tales of Hi and Bye: Greeting and Parting Rituals Around the World, Cambridge University Press, 2009, pp. 18–25. Cambridge University Press,
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Apologises After David Walliams' Nazi Salute During Would I Lie To You? Taping
The BBC has apologised for David Walliams' 'unacceptable' behaviour during a recent taping of a Would I Lie To You? special. Earlier this week, the former Little Britain star was a guest on the pre-recorded Christmas special of the popular BBC panel show. During the recording, fellow guest Helen George attempted to convince her opponents that she once injured herself while waving on the official Strictly Come Dancing tour. As she demonstrated the wave that supposedly caused the injury, BBC News reported that David joined with increasingly exaggerated hand gestures, eventually culminating in him performing a Nazi salute. They also claimed that at one point he performed a Nazi salute with one hand and a sexual gesture with the other. One audience member told BBC News: 'The atmosphere was uncomfortable and weird. I think Rob Brydon wanted to get past it as quickly as he could. 'David Walliams' teammates looked unsure what to do and were not laughing... It was like an elephant in the room after that as the incident was early on in the recording and so the remainder of the show felt weird.' A spokesperson for the broadcaster later said: 'The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.' Meanwhile, a representative for Banijay – the production company who makes Would I Lie To You? – also issued an apology, insisting: 'Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. 'It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.' HuffPost UK has also contacted David Walliams' team for comment. BBC News noted that David has made only a handful of terrestrial TV appearances in recent history, following his departure from Britain's Got Talent in 2022 after 10 years on the panel. David's exit came after recordings of him making disparaging and sexually explicit remarks about numerous BGT hopefuls on the set of the show in 2020, for which he later apologised, were leaked to the press. David Walliams Reaches Settlement With Production Company Behind Britain's Got Talent Simon Cowell Breaks Silence On David Walliams' 'Completely Unacceptable' Comments That Led To BGT Exit Matt Lucas Sets The Record Straight After Reports About 'New Series' Of Little Britain
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Man's Nazi salute conviction overturned after claim he was copying Ricky Gervais
A man who argued he was merely copying a performance by comedian Ricky Gervais when he performed a Nazi salute outside a Jewish museum has won his bid to overturn the conviction. Ryan Marshall, Anthony Mitchell and Daniel Muston were last October convicted of performing a Nazi salute outside the Sydney Jewish Museum in October of 2023. The trio, working nearby the museum, were on their way back to their work van when they performed Nazi salutes and a goose step one after the other. Marshall, Muston and Mr Mitchell were each convicted and handed down respective fines of $1500, $1000 and $500. All three men appealed their convictions in Sydney's District Court on Friday, the group arguing their actions couldn't be constituted or characterised as a Nazi symbol under the public act. 'Put differently, the issue is whether as a matter of statutory construction the gesture is capable of amounting to a Nazi symbol,' Judge Craig Smith SC told the court on Friday morning. However, the prosecution argued there was 'no basis and it was artificial to limit the definition of a symbol to a tangible object'. Mr Mitchell's lawyer's further argued their client was repeating, reciting or mimicking part of a performance by popular English comedian Ricky Gervais. They argued Mr Mitchell's intent was not subjectively malicious. 'It was submitted that if Mr Gervais' performance was artistic, and the appellant was copying the artistic performance, that what the appellant did (had artistic purpose),' Judge Smith said. The prosecution submitted Mr Gervais' performance was before an audience, in a theatre, and had a particular context, while what Mr Mitchell did was not reasonable or in good faith as part of an artistic performance. Therefore, there was no reasonable excuse for his actions. Turning to Mr Mitchell's argument of artistic expression, Judge Smith said a Nazi symbol during a lecture might reasonably be seen as for academic purposes and similarly during a performance for artistic purposes. 'What (Mitchell) did was not an expression of artistic purpose, it was repeating the expression of someone else's arguably artistic purpose,' Judge Smith said. 'The facts and circumstances here are a good distance from that which is excusable. 'I respectfully fail to see how … what he did could possibly be characterised as being done for an artistic purpose.' Judge Smith initially dismissed each of the men's appeals; however, he was later 'persuaded' to overturn Mitchell's. Lawyers on behalf of Mr Mitchell and Muston challenged the severity of their sentences after Judge Smith ruled to throw out their appeals, with Mitchell's lawyer arguing his client was simply copying Mr Gervais' skit and had no ties or intent related to the Nazi party. The court was also told Mr Mitchell didn't know he was outside the Sydney Jewish Museum at the time while Muston did. 'The conduct occurred over one second…it was really one second,' Mr Mitchell's lawyer told the court. 'It was definitely not intended to be seen by anyone other than the co-offenders. Importantly, the conduct was not viewed by any member of the public…it was viewed by someone from the museum who was looking at a screen. 'My submission is that the conduct of Mr Mitchell falls at the very bottom of the range in objective seriousness.' Judge Smith told the court that he was 'persuaded' to a different position in respect of Mr Mitchell, allowing the appeal and thus quashing his conviction. Muston's lawyer, Bryan Wrench, argued his client had no Nazi ideology, had expressed regret, and that he'd participated in a tour at the Jewish museum which made him appreciate the seriousness of the actions. Judge Smith didn't consider it appropriate to overturn Muston's conviction; however, he did reduce his fine from $1000 to $500, calling the initial figure 'excessive'. No severity appeal was entered on Marshall's behalf. Judge Smith emphasised the offences were to be taken 'very seriously' by courts. 'The display of Nazi symbols will not be tolerated and will be dealt with sternly by the courts,' Judge Smith said. Marshall had a cigarette hanging outside his mouth as he walked outside the Downing Centre on Friday, pausing for a moment to pose for the cameras after his win. Asked how he was feeling, he told reporters 'it is what it is', telling them to 'have a good day'. The court was earlier told there didn't appear to be any hateful ideology behind the men's' actions.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Walliams ‘shocks' audience with two Nazi salutes at Would I Lie to You? recording
David Walliams has sparked outcry after 'giving two Nazi salutes' during a recording of BBC series Would I Lie To You?'s Christmas special. The former Little Britain star, who quit ITV series Britain's Got Talent when he was caught making lewd comments about contestants, is said to have shocked host Rob Brydon, his fellow celebrity panellists as well as audience members with the gesture. Walliams reportedly gave the offensive salutes while filming the 2025 Christmas special earlier this week. It's believed they occurred after an anecdote that was shared by Call the Midwife star Helen George, who was a contestant on Walliams' team, led by captain Lee Mack. Multiple outlets report that the incident occurred after George claimed she once sprained her wrist 'from waving too much during the Strictly tour'; the actor toured with the BBC dancing competition in 2016 after competing on the series the previous year. When George tried to convince David Mitchell's opposing team that her statement was true, she was asked to give an example of the wave, with her rival contestants asking her 'to make a grander gesture'. According to an audience member present at the filming, this was when Walliams joined in, allegedly proceeding to do a Nazi salute, which went down 'awkwardly'. Team captain Mack was reportedly left 'distinctly unimpressed' by Walliams' actions. The outlet reports that Brydon immediately 'reprimanded' Walliams – but later on in the round, the controversial star and children's author 'made the gesture a second time'. Journalist Sebastian Topan who was in the audience, told the outlet: 'There were gasps from the audience and the other panellists all looked very uncomfortable,' with another writing on X/Twitter after the recording: 'I didn't have David Walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You? Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.' Topan continued: "I think Rob Brydon wanted to get past it as quickly as he could. David Walliams' teammates looked unsure what to do and were not laughing. 'It was like an elephant in the room after that as the incident was early on in the recording and so the remainder of the show felt weird." A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: 'The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.' The Independent has also contacted Walliams for comment. A spokesperson for Banijay UK, which oversees the game show's production company Zeppotron, said: 'Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. 'It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.' Walliams was a judge on Britain's Got Talent from 2012 up until his departure in 2022, when it emerged that he had made sexually explicit and derogatory remarks about some of the contestants during a recording at the London Palladium in January 2020. Walliams's comments were picked up by the microphones on the desk and were seemingly not intended to be heard publicly – and he sued FremantleMedia, the production company that makes BGT, for the leaking of his private remarks. The matter was settled in November 2023. He decided to leave the show after issuing an apology. When the recording of his inappropriate comments was made public in 2022, Walliams told The Independent: 'I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain's Got Talent in 2020. These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.' Fremantle, while announcing it had reached a settlement with Walliams, issued its own apology, stating: 'We are sincerely sorry that his private conversations when a judge on Britain's Got Talent were published, and the great distress this caused David. 'We have reviewed our production practices on the show to ensure they fully respect the expectations of our talent whilst satisfying the requirements of the show. We have enjoyed a great relationship with David over many years. 'We thank David for being an important part of the Britain's Got Talent family and the enduring success of the show and hope to have opportunities to work with him in the future. We are pleased that we have achieved an amicable resolution of this dispute with David.'
