Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Jerry Sadowitz

336 replies

Bearsinmotion · 15/08/2022 13:08

Is anyone following this?

Really strange - the Pleasance theatre have cancelled Jerry Sadowitz’s show at the fringe, citing audience walkouts and complaints of extreme misogyny and racism. But have not quoted what was said that was so offensive even to him. Both Sadowitz and people who were there have questioned the walkouts. The show had many, many warnings about offensive content, and that he was going to be getting his cock out, which he did, as do other comedians at the Fringe.

there are a few comedians supporting him on Twitter, around the defence of free speech. But what stood out to me in the language was that audience members felt “unsafe,” yet I have not seen a single person say that was them. Graham Linehan has written about it here. Just wondering if it was related to the TRA frenzy as Glinner implies, with manufactured outrage or whether Sadowitz genuinely went too far this time.

I used to love Jerry back in the day, and he was one of the few calling out Jimmy Saville when it counted, so I want to believe he’s not been targeted for once again calling out those doing real harm…

OP posts:
RoyalCorgi · 15/08/2022 13:25

I'm a bit perplexed at it all. Sadowitz is known for his offensive humour, so who on earth went to his show expecting not to be offended?

I was also surprised that glinner implied it was to do with the trans issue, when other reports have cited Sadowitz supposedly calling Sunak an offensive racial slur, and also his getting his dick out which, as the OP says, lots of comedians do.

I very much doubt the racial slur against Sunak was intended as such - there will be some context that suggests the opposite, I imagine.

Sheerj · 15/08/2022 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

NecessaryScene · 15/08/2022 13:28

who on earth went to his show expecting not to be offended?

Not sure there was anyone.

As OP says, several people claiming to be there deny any walkouts, and the venue's statement was rather cagey on whether the complaints were from audience or staff.

Quite plausible that the audience was entirely happy, and it's all down to the staff.

IcakethereforeIam · 15/08/2022 13:34

He released a statement on twitter, hope it's linked:

mobile.twitter.com/RealJSadowitz/status/1558938534819635201/photo/1

JenniferBarkley · 15/08/2022 13:34

All I've seen is that he got his dick out. I doubt that would be tolerated in most places.

IcakethereforeIam · 15/08/2022 13:37

Nudity, I believe, is not unusual in shows at the fringe.

Original poster
Bearsinmotion · 15/08/2022 13:46

I did see a post saying that the racial slur was in the context of that was how other Tories refer to Sunak. Audience member on Twitter couldn’t say either way.

OP posts:
DarkDayforMN · 15/08/2022 13:55

we do know that Sadowitz deliberately targeted a women in the front row to expose himself too and for her it was unexpected and distressing

Do we know that she was distressed or is that just speculation? I think if you voluntarily sit in the front row of a comedy show you’re probably quite thick skinned, and the audience was forewarned he’d get his dick out.

(I hope the woman he picked on doesn’t wind up getting blamed for this.)

ofwarren · 15/08/2022 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Have you got the evidence for this?

WolverineBluey · 15/08/2022 14:06

There's a thread in AIBU: Comedians defending Jerry Sadowitz http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4610857-comedians-defending-jerry-sadowitz

I'm puzzled by Glinner's take, which was published before any of the other accusations of racism and flashing. Transphobia is practically the only thing the Pleasance hasn't accused JS of.

Imlosingmorethanilleverhave · 15/08/2022 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

donquixotedelamancha · 15/08/2022 14:14

This reply has been deleted

This thread has been deleted as it contains racial slurs causing offence.

DarkDayforMN · 15/08/2022 14:39

I'm puzzled by Glinner's take, which was published before any of the other accusations of racism and flashing

it does seem like the TRAs have lined up on the anti-Sadowitz side though. (And are, insanely, pretending to be concerned about flashing! Presumably some of them are just mad that no one will ever pay for tickets to see their dick.)

SerendipityJane · 15/08/2022 14:41

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11110575/JK-Rowling-wades-Jerry-Sadowitz-row-comedians-Edinburgh-Fringe-cancelled.html

JK Rowling weighs into Jerry Sadowitz row after comedian's Edinburgh Fringe show was cancelled: Author likes tweet branding decision 'beyond shameful' as backlash grows at venue bosses for 'destroying free speech'

Signalbox · 15/08/2022 14:55

JenniferBarkley · 15/08/2022 13:34

All I've seen is that he got his dick out. I doubt that would be tolerated in most places.

Unless you go to Bristol and then you can take your 5-year-old child to see the Family Sex Show.

ditalini · 15/08/2022 15:01

This is the first time I've read that he specifically targeted a woman in the front row and waved his dick at her as a statement of absolute fact.

Where did you get this information from?

Legrandsophie · 15/08/2022 15:03

There does seem to be an inconsistency in the TRa line.

Rainbow dildo Butt monkey for kids = fine

Famously offensive comedian getting dick out for adult comedy show- heinous

Also see you adored Frankie Boyle is because he trots out the right phrases while making jokes about rape phantasy.

NecessaryScene · 15/08/2022 15:14

There does seem to be an inconsistency in the TRa line.

If only he'd done it in a women's spa or shelter to an unwilling audience including girls - then he'd have a black-clad masked mob turning up in support.

His mistake was to perform to a paying audience of adults who'd specifically come to see him. Have to nip that sort of thing in the bud and make sure the next audience can't get what they paid for.

BlackForestCake · 15/08/2022 15:18

There does seem to be an inconsistency in the TRa line.

No, it's quite consistent – you can get your dick out anywhere you like as long as women present DON’T consent to seeing it.

It’s only when women have bought tickets and are aware there might be a dick on show that it’s bad.

Floisme · 15/08/2022 15:27

From what I've read, Sadowitz is playing a role: an obnoxious character who says and does the most loathsome things while performing the most sublime magic. I imagine the incongruence is part of the point.

It also sounds like no-one, and certainly no minority group, is spared the odious diatribe so I'm not sure how relevant it is to single out any specific comment, unless the point is that society regards some minorities as more worthy of protection than others? But I've never seen show and therefore so far, this is all speculation and I'm open to persuasion.

What does seem beyond dispute is that this is an adult only show, that there are prominent warnings about offensive content and nudity, and that the only way to see it is to buy a ticket and go to the theatre. I cannot comprehend how anyone in the audience could have been unaware of what they were about to see, or how the venue didn't know when they hired him.

SerendipityJane · 15/08/2022 15:32

What does seem beyond dispute is that this is an adult only show, that there are prominent warnings about offensive content and nudity, and that the only way to see it is to buy a ticket and go to the theatre. I cannot comprehend how anyone in the audience could have been unaware of what they were about to see, or how the venue didn't know when they hired him.

I think you forget we live in a country where people move to the country and then complain about living in the country.

metro.co.uk/2018/04/18/townies-moved-countryside-complain-farm-animals-7477254/

For example.

Presumably the Pleasance has refunded all those people that did attend ?

No ?

Thought not.

Here's my take. When they do, I'll believe them. Until they do, they can FRO.

Incidentally, this backlash could well hurt the Pleasance if artists decide to boycott it. Two way street and all that.

PurgatoryOfPotholes · 15/08/2022 15:35

I'd love to know what is going on.

So far, I've found publicity for the show in which he warns people he'll be getting his dick out. Given that, it seems that the theatre must have been fully aware that was planned. Multiple people are saying that this is a routine event for his show. So they can't be cancelling the booking over that.

I saw a trans extremist on twitter attempting to parrot feminists by talking about cocks in women's spaces, but this wasn't a women's space. It was a Jerry Sadowitz space!

I will complain all day long about unexpected male genitalia in women's spaces, but I don't have a right to walk into the men's changing room and complain about penises on show there. The presence of women doesn't make somewhere a women's space.

Cloogy · 15/08/2022 15:42

ditalini · 15/08/2022 15:01

This is the first time I've read that he specifically targeted a woman in the front row and waved his dick at her as a statement of absolute fact.

Where did you get this information from?

I don't know if he waved it about, but The Scottish Sun were first with the story and had the most details:

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/9300034/jerry-sadowitz-edinburgh-fringe-show-axed/

One audience member said "He got his penis out to a woman in the front row. The problem was not the audience - I knew he was an acquired taste. It was his indefensible content”.

SerendipityJane · 15/08/2022 15:52

but I don't have a right to walk into the men's changing room and complain about penises on show there.

I take it you missed the thread on MN from a woman who did exactly that ...

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7731717/Mother-blasts-father-standing-naked-mens-changing-room.html

ScribblingPixie · 15/08/2022 15:57

It reads to me that it was something to do with the staff at the venue? The safe space nonsense that the theatre spokesperson was spouting was most likely to relate to them, not people who've bought a ticket knowing what they're getting?