Jimmy Carr doesn't think being cancelled is 'a real thing'
The comedian has cracked some controversial jokes over the years, but told This Morning his critics haven't managed to end his career yet.
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Jimmy Carr has said he doesn't think being cancelled "is a real thing" as he has survived so many brushes with cancel culture.
The comedian told This Morning that jokes were all about context and and that he knew his jokes weren't to everyone's taste, but has plenty of loyal fans.
Meanwhile, John Cleese was cut off during his own comments on being cancelled as hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond had to tell him mid-sentence that the show was out of time.
What, how, and why?
Asked by host Alison Hammond about being cancelled, he said: "I don't even think it's a real thing. I've been cancelled many times, I'm on This Morning. It's not a real thing."
Comedian Jimmy Carr's stand-up routines have attracted plenty of criticism over the years, but despite attempts to silence his jokes he has said he doesn't think being cancelled is "a real thing".
Speaking to This Morning about having been cancelled "many times", he said that not all comedy will suit everyone and that people just needed to find the humour that they liked the most.
Carr added: "There's a big difference between criticism - some people legitimately think I'm rubbish - and some people just go, well he must be banned, we can't have him playing theatres any more."
One of Carr's most famous controversial moments included a joke about the Holocaust in a Netflix special, but the comedian has defended his right to humour about any subject.
He said: "It wasn't doubling down, it's not being macho about it. The audience tell me what's funny. Sometimes when a joke escapes the lab and a clip goes on Instagram people go, that's disgraceful, and it's like yeah, it's not for you," adding: "There's loads of great comedy but not everyone's for everyone. You find your audience."
Pressed by host Dermot O'Leary on whether some of his jokes were offensive, Carr said: "Is it a joke or is it a statement? Talking about those things no-one's talking about, that's where comedy lives, in that gap between public and private discourse, and there's never been a bigger gap between how people talk on TV and how people talk in the real world.
"When you're playing around with that stuff that's dangerous, it's very exciting...There's a big difference between going camping and being homeless. Context is everything."
He added: "I'll joke about everything, I'm like an equal opportunities offender."
What else happened on This Morning?
Also appearing on This Morning was another comedian who has been no stranger to cancel culture, John Cleese.
The Monty Python star has been working on a theatre adaptation of his classic sitcom Fawlty Towers with his daughter and said of working with her: "It's adorable. The nice thing about her is that she's got a blacker sense of humour than I have."
But Cleese found he was cancelled by ITV's scheduling as midway through an answer about his most recent controversy, O'Leary and Hammond cut him off to allow Loose Women to start.
Cleese was in the middle of clarifying his recent remarks about comedy being difficult now because people are too "literal-minded" in being offended by jokes out of context before he was cut off.
He said: "If you're at a funeral, you'll think of an absolutely disgraceful joke but you won't shout it out..." as O'Leary cut in and told him: "John we've got to leave it there, we've run out of time."
Hammond apologised: "We've got to cut you off, I can't believe this," but Cleese tried to continue, saying: "The other thing that interests me..." before being interrupted again by Kaye Adams trailing Friday's Loose Women episode.
Even when This Morning cut back to their own studio, Cleese began: "The other thing that I like so much..." as O'Leary said: "Oh, John," and cut him off again for the end of the show.
This Morning airs on ITV1 at 10am on weekdays.
Read more: John Cleese
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