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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think Jimmy Carr is a sleazy, creepy little oik?

106 replies

M48294Y · 10/12/2015 22:45

Was randomly watching a C4 show the other night "That's So Last Century".

They have slebs on talking about technology from the 1970s onwards - so things like Walkmans, the first massive mobile phones, BBC computers on which you mainly played Pac-Man - etc.

I thought about recording it for the dc to watchth. Thought they might find it mildly amusing and most of the celebrities were actually showing these gadgets to their young children and part of the interest in the programme was how the kids really had no clue what, for instance, a video cassette was.

Anyhooo, Jimmy Carr's comments were all, without fail, about porn and the internet. Everything was a cheap crappy joke about "cracking one off" and boners and all the other mindless Inbetweeners type comments you could imagine.

So I decided not to record for the dc (shame) but felt especially sorry for the celebs whose children who had participated in the programme. Do they show their sweet little children this show they had been in or not??

Creepy Jimmy Carr wanker.

OP posts:

purpleapple1234 · 11/12/2015 07:24

I watched a stand up show of his once when he was having a bit of audience interaction and picked on a couple there. They admitted that they were "fuck buddies" (why? at a filmed concert?), so JC turned round to the bloke and said something along the lines of "well done there mate" and then turned round to the woman and said "so you're a slag. I've never met a slag before. How does it feel to be a slag". Vile vile vile.

I have heard quiet a few times that he is lovely bloke in real life. But even if he is well-mannered and respectful, that does not match up to choosing to make a living through such misogyny and nastiness.

Cass168 · 11/12/2015 07:25

Interesting to read some of the comments on here which are similar to my experience - saw him live with DH a few years ago and the two biggest laughs of the night were from hecklers. Really flat show. I don't even know why we went tbh, neither of us were huge fans, even less so after that.

MackerelOfFact · 11/12/2015 07:37

I think he's one of those comedians where in a live, unscripted situation he is naturally quite witty, dry and funny. But his stand-up tries too hard to shock. It always feels like his intention is to make people go 'oooh, you can't say that!' rather than actually laugh. Even on panel shows like 8 out of 10 Cats, the audience sort of groan at his 'jokes' rather than laugh.

zippey · 11/12/2015 07:43

I think you need to blame the shows writers and producers. You would be incredibly naive if you believe that there wasn't a pre defined script and that Carr was invited to give his opinion on the pre defined topics. I haven't seen the show but sex and gender is usually discussed in these shows and you can't have a show about the 70's without discussing porn surely!

I also think it's beyond the pale to say he will be outed as a predator in the future. I just find it creepy when people say that - I think it says something about themselves.

I'm going to go against the grain too and say I find JC funny, his rape and paedophile jokes are hilarious. Nothing should be off limits I think and It's obviously an act.

But then, I think Frankie Boyle and Russell Brand are comedy geniuses too!

Let's face it, what you find funny is due to personal preference.

iPaid · 11/12/2015 07:50

Zippey if you find jokes about rape and paedophilia hilarious then you are a sick.

The counter-argument, expressed most forcibly by Jo Brand, is that today's comedians pose as plain-speakers and PC refuseniks in order to smuggle in the kind of misogynist comedy last seen in the 1970s. The likes of Carr, says Brand, "appeal to all the people out there who think, 'Where have all those delicious anti-women jokes gone? We miss them.'" Brand identifies "almost a desperation to make [comedy] more unpalatable than it was before"

EponasWildDaughter · 11/12/2015 07:58

It's strange how often posters opinions about finding him and his jokes distasteful are countered with 'but he's friendly', 'he chatted to people in the bar', 'he's 'down to earth'', ect.

I'm surprised that personalities being charming ''in real life'' can still win people over.

flippinada · 11/12/2015 07:59

He actually makes my flesh crawl to the point where I can't bear even looking at him (so I don't).

People commenting about how nice and professional he is might like to bear in mind that is easy to be charming and pleasant when you're getting something out of it.

Stasie · 11/12/2015 08:03

I've hated him for a very long time. Really disturbing guy.

PeekABooPinky101 · 11/12/2015 08:09

As a pp poster has said, Jimmy stays around after his gigs, happily talking to people, photos, signing things and is very nice.
He does this after every show. I have seen him live many times a good five years ago now, to be fair and after each one he does the same.

I also won some tickets to a very small private show he did in London. He took time before and after to talk to everyone in that room, to ask genuine questions and buy drinks for everyone.

I agree some of his humour is extremely close to the bone. But he is known for that. He always has been. I believe even he admits things are a bit risky at times, and aren't for everyone's taste.

I think as with everything, some people will like, some people won't. You avoid what you don't like and carry on.

UmbongoUnchained · 11/12/2015 08:20

Poor Jimmy. I hope he never reads this. What horrible nasty people you are!

WiryElevator · 11/12/2015 08:24

We saw him at one of those test out your new material small shows two years ago and he was at best average.

flippinada · 11/12/2015 08:24

Yeah, yeah. Poor ickle Jimmy.

He can wipe away all the tears with the wads of the cash he's raked in from tax avoidance schemes .

MrRobot · 11/12/2015 08:28

His laugh makes me want to push him off a cliff, it's awful.

OneMoreCasualty · 11/12/2015 08:29

Rape and misogyny aren't funny.

However, this wasn't a live show, The programme makers would have asked for internet porn jokes.

Kraggle · 11/12/2015 08:29

I love Jimmy Carr and have seen his stand up numerous times. Yes some of his jokes are a bit but most of them are dry, clever and witty. He is a very quick, sharp comedian.

I can't stand Keith Lemon, I think he's weird and not really funny, but I can separate the act from the person and wouldn't hold it against Leigh Frances.

shinynewusername · 11/12/2015 08:39

YANBU - I had the misfortune of seeing him live once (not my choice). He was vile. I like edgy humour but he was pointlessly offensive without being funny. He reminded me of a 14 year old boy trying to shock.

Bakeoffcake · 11/12/2015 08:39

To be honest the stories about him buying drinks for "everyone" and staying around after gigs to drink and chat with people make me think he's even more of a creep. Why the heck would anyone spend their free time with strangers after every gig? Yes, have a quick chat for a few minutes at the stage door, sign some autographs and have photos taken, but buying everyone a drink?

And posters saying, yes some of his material is near the bone, (not how I'd describe rape and abuse jokes) but he's a really nice man and he chatted to me and bought me a drink, is frigging ridiculous in this day and age.

It reminds me of people's defence of another Jimmy. Not that I'm saying JC is anything like Saville, but you'd have thought people would have stopped fawning over famous people who say disgraceful things but act generously.

Some people never learn.

Original poster

M48294Y · 11/12/2015 08:41

Zippey - if you haven't seen the show then I respectfully suggest you don't know what you're talking about.

Why can't you have a show about the 70s without discussing porn? . Surely the noughties onwards is the time when our lives became absolutely infested with it?

Anyway, my point really is that it felt very wrong to be watching a show in which most of the content was contributed by children, interspersed with Jimmy relying on his usual questionable humour to get a cheap laugh and make a quick buck. James Corden appeared to be able to contribute without sounding like a desperate 14 year old.

I also agree that I am unhappy with the producer, director and editor of the show.

OP posts:

MaisieDotes · 11/12/2015 09:06

JC turned round to the bloke and said something along the lines of "well done there mate" and then turned round to the woman and said "so you're a slag. I've never met a slag before. How does it feel to be a slag". Vile vile vile.

I've always thought that when he says things like this he is deliberately voicing unpalatable social attitudes, so as to highlight and expose them. The double standard is still very deeply entrenched when it comes to casual sex, I would have thought that he was making a comment on that.

PiperChapstick · 11/12/2015 09:10

I think he's funny and enjoy watching him. Someone is always gonna be offended by certain jokes and comedians appeal to their audience. Don't have to listen to him if you don't like him

OhYeahMama · 11/12/2015 09:11

Absolutely right bakedoffcake. He will keep up the facade of niceness. Don't forget his dodgy tax dealings too.

OhYeahMama · 11/12/2015 09:15

What about the woman at the receiving end of his cheap jibe piper? Some woman would have been able to make a quick retort but that would have left me speechless and mortified. Other men would have sniggered no doubt. Damaging misogynistic shit.

ShatnersBassoon · 11/12/2015 09:18

I saw him a couple of times in a small comedy club about 15 years ago, and he was fairly funny. He was a pure punster, nothing shocking or close to the bone at all. Not very memorable, but funny enough.

I think he's appalling now, truly dire and desperate. And that laugh .

I get the feeling he's a 'bullied turned bully' character. He seems to think he has some clout now that means nobody will question him.

hazeyjane · 11/12/2015 09:18

I don't get it when people say, but you can choose not to watch. it is the 21st century, when someone like JC makes a joke that dehumanises and mocks disabled people, or laughs at violence against women it ends up everywhere - on the internet, in the papers - they know this, it is what gives them their notoriety, and if they say, 'well if you don't like it don't come to the show', they are being disingenuous.

It legitimises the arseholes that think it's funny to shout abuse or laugh at disabled people on the street and makes it ok for the 15 year olds thinking all girls are slags who just want to be raped.

If JC and FB and the like made these jokes about race, they would be castigated.........maybe they wouldn't though. I would like to think they would die out like the dinosaurs that were Bernard Manning et al - but actually I think people would just enjoy having a little snigger, and like being allowed to laugh at 'retard' jokes, they can hide behind the mask of it all being so postmodern and 'knowing' now.

iPaid · 11/12/2015 09:21

Next his fans will be pointing out that he does a lot of work for charity

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