Has David Walliams finally wrecked what was left of his career?

[itsnotabouthepasta]

He was part of the taping of the xmas special of WILTY yesterday and did a Nazi salute twice, as "comedy"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg59q1xgv8o

At least the show immediately told him that it was utterly unacceptable and the BBC and production have also condemed him immediately, rather than this coming to light in a few years time.

Combined with this and also being booted off BGT for the way he spoke to contestants, surely there's no way back for him now on telly?

That's an odd claim. It's a comedy panel show and comedy actor DW does a nazi salute and you think it wasn't intended to be funny???
Do you think he took a break from proceedings to do a party political broadcast for the nazi party?

Years ago I went to see Matt Forde who is a brilliant political comedian. It was when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister, Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the opposition and Trump was president first time round. He did about 20 or so minutes on Johnson and Trump and the audience lapped it up. Then he moved on to Corbyn and said something like the thing about him is he is both a socialist and a nationalist. He then said “good job he doesn’t have any issues with Jewish people”. This bloke got up and started shouting his head off at him. He was quite unhinged. He had enjoyed all the Johnson and Trump stuff but then was horrified that Corbyn might get ridiculed too. He then announced he was leaving and everyone cheered. He raised his hand as in a sort of defiant “goodbye” and Matt Forde said “did you just do that?!!” and did a nazi salute. It was hilarious. It was in context. It was about waving. It was clearly not supporting Nazis. We have no idea the context in which it was done but to say you can never joke about it and a comment about a wave has no connection to a nazi salute is just plain wrong.

Doing a Nazi salute seriously Elon style - really not ok. Doing one in jest - no problem with that at all - been done in comedy for years. Has to be funny though if you are going to push the boundaries into “offensive” territory you need to make sure you’ll actually get a laugh. Otherwise it’s just offensive and awkward. From the article it sounds like he missed the mark there. Don’t think it’s a “cancelling” offence though, essentially trying to be funny but getting it wrong. No one seems to be alleging he pulled a nazi salute in seriousness?

I meant the ehhh ehhh lady who rushed around making noises similar to those made by a non verbal profoundly learning disabled person I know. People would make those same noises and laugh. It was horrible for her parents.

Are you willing to pay their Universal Credit forever with your taxes then as a result?

I didn’t say it wasn’t intended to be funny. I said it wasn’t part of a joke. The problem here is that Walliams (and you apparently) thinks an out of context Nazi salute is funny. It isn’t.

Pretty sure Walliams wouldn’t qualify for UC.

Just because someone is dismissed from a business for gross misconduct doesn't mean they cannot get employment elsewhere. Perhaps somewhere that the policies are different.

Or the person can improve their behavior and seek re-employment.

I have been wondering if it could be gross misconduct. I suppose it depends on how it was done.

Some examples of gross misconduct

Bullying - Nazi salutes aimed at the victims of the Nazi regime may be considered bullying.

Harassment - Nazi salutes may well be considered harassment towards victims of the Nazi regime.

Offensive behavior - I think most people would consider the Nazi salute an offensive gesture, alongside a sexual gesture most work places would deem this unacceptable.

Violent behavior - given the violence of the Nazi regime depending on the context a Nazi salute could be seen as a treat of violence.

A joke can be offensive. Jokes are often used by bullies to be cruel and undermine their victims under the pretense of having a laugh.

I don't think we should accept disgusting behavior just because the alternative is a very unlikely theoretical 'paying universal credit'

Quite.

It was obviously intended to be funny, even if it wasn't funny.

What's the argument for it not being intended that way?

Nobody is arguing it wasn’t intended to be funny. Just that a decent person would know that a without context Nazi salute just…isn’t.

The context was a comedy bit about arm malfunction. Not a good joke*, but, as we agree, intended as a joke.

And my argument is simply that we shouldn't cancel people for poor jokes.

*For a really good joke about Nazi salutes and arm malfunction, I recommend Peter Sellers in Dr Strangelove.

It’s not just a poor joke though. It’s a poor joke involving a sensitive political subject. ‘Cancelling’ isn’t a thing though. People in entertainment get hired if they make money. If people don’t want to see them for whatever reason, they don’t make money for the hirer and so don’t get hired. It’s entirely on them.

I guess you're not a big comedy fan if you think jokes on sensitive topics warrant cancelling the performer (oh sorry I forgot cancelling doesn't exist).

Again. Not what I said.
It’s really simple. A random no-context-no set up Nazi salute isn’t something anyone wants to see as it’s pretty offensive. Hence he might find himself getting booked less because people don’t want to see him.
Actual jokes on sensitive subjects - fine.

@PointsSouth I agree!! Another similar gag was Fr Ted. The one where there is a black rectangle on the window and when Ted stood in front of this and was pointing at something it looked like a Hitler moustache and Nazi salute. Really silly but funny in the context.

Are you his mum?

Awww. No. But thank you. She seems like a nice lady.

Or this one ?

I always thought he was “punching above” when he married Lara Stone.

You can debate his humour till the cows come home but what i don't get is the posters who come on and say things like my friend dated him and he's a beast or my sister works at itv and there ms shocking things to know.

Yeah, very believable.

If these things actually happened there'd be at least a bit of detail.

I know he gives any of us a bad feeling but he could just be an unfortunate, somewhat arrogant person.

There is plenty of detail available on the record for him being a not very nice person.
The classist/fat-phobic/racist crap in his kids’ books
Hosting/speaking at the repugnant male-only dinner where teenage waitresses were repeatedly groped (this wasn’t a one off that he was unaware of).
He is a powerful man, with expensive lawyers.
I don’t know if you watched the most recent episodes of Casualty but his name is one that young women working in publishing are warned about.

@GrammarTeacher I have no idea if he's a nice or a terrible person, but I've read a handful of his books to/with the kids and to say they are racist,classist and fat phobic is very over the top. He's not my favourite kids author but the books' messages are generally positive.

Indeed. That had me confused, too.

You know there's a difference between terrestrial TV and cable/sat? So basically that means he's not been on BBC, ITV or Channel 4

That was very well done and hilarious.