'There's nothing left to joke about in this woke world': Anti-Semitism 'is new rock and roll', Maureen Lipman fears

14 February 2024, 18:30

Dame Maureen blamed woke culture for a rise in anti-Semitic "comedy"
Dame Maureen blamed woke culture for a rise in anti-Semitic "comedy". Picture: Alamy/Social media
Connor Hand

By Connor Hand

Dame Maureen Lipman believes anti-Semitism is becoming the "new Rock & Roll" amid a surge in cases since October 7th.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking to LBC, the legendary actress also argued that the "woke world" has resulted in comedians fostering anti-Semitic sentiments during their gigs.

Her comments follow a recent case at Soho Theatre involving Paul Currie.

He allegedly "hounded out" an Israeli man who refused to stand up in support of Palestine. He reportedly told the man to: "Get out of my show. Get the f*** out of here. F*** off, get the f*** out of here."

Read more: 'It wasn't bullying': Protester defends protest at Tobias Ellwood's home as he says 'Hamas is not in question'

Responding to this, Dame Maureen suggested that sensitivities surrounding a range of subjects has led to a position where comics are targeting the Jewish community: "These people go to a comedy club [and] they can't do any jokes about gender, they can't do any jokes about being black or white, they can't do mother-in-law, they can't do the wife.

"There's absolutely nothing left in this woke world to make jokes about - and so therefore, they're driven to basically just stand up and say, 'stand up for Palestine. And if you don't, then eff off'."

Dame Maureen's comments come on the eve of the publication of an annual report into anti-Semitism by the Community Security Trust, one of the main organisations tackling this form of discrimination in the UK.

In the immediate aftermath of the October 7th attacks, the Metropolitan Police reported a 1,353% rise in anti-Semitic offences, and Dame Maureen feels this increase is possibly being fuelled by academics on university campuses.

"I think anti-Semitism is rapidly becoming the new rock and roll. I think that young people are disaffected in many ways.

"They're groomed on the campuses by progressive academics. They're groomed to believe that Israel is a rogue state, even though it is a legitimate state; they absolutely ignore the fact that there have been invasions into Israel since the very moment of its inception."

Read more: Third Labour politician 'spoken to' amid anti-Semitism row, as Starmer battles to control crisis ahead of by-elections

"What's happening on the campuses [is] kids having to hide [and] kids not being allowed into them. It's the drip, drip of what happened to us in Germany - and for the last 4000 years.

"Everyone in [Paul Currie's] audience should go and see the film the Zone of Interest and see what happened in the camps and how easy it is to be utterly disinterested."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Legendary strongman Geoff Capes left nearly £240,000 in his will

Legendary strongman and Olympian Geoff Capes leaves £240k in will following death aged 75

The scene in Coulter Road, Hammersmith, west London, following the death of a woman in a flat

Woman, 36, found dead after man seen trying to force his way into flat in west London

Quinn Parker

'Inhumane' NHS trust admits maternity failings as three babies die within months of each other

The Aesculapian snake can grow up to two metres in length

Europe's biggest snake 'thriving' in UK and living in people's attics, study finds

The Aurora Borealis, Or Northern Lights, Visible From Large Swath Of North America

Northern Lights to be visible across parts of UK tonight

Zhenhao Zou is accused of rape

Woman 'among ten accusing Chinese student of rape' in London left 'angry and ashamed after attack', court told

London, UK. 28th January, 2025. Attorney General Richard Hermer arrives in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting. Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Alamy Live News

Labour spat as peer brands attorney general Lord Hermer 'arrogant, progressive fool' and calls for him to quit

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Soldier, 19, complained of 'unwelcome behaviour' from 'psychotic and possessive' boss before taking her own life

Watch the rousing Super Bowl ad directed by Michael Bay on behalf of the Secret Service

US Secret Service spends millions on recruitment film from Hollywood director Michael Bay

Father jailed for at least 15 years after murdering daughter, 14, in 'kitchen play fight'

Scarlett Vickers' grandad defends father who stabbed teen to death in 'kitchen play fight'

Israeli captive Eli Sharabi was handed over on Saturday

Hamas delays the release of hostages 'until further notice' over claims Israel violated ceasefire deal

Donald Trump has said he is working on a plan to broker a deal to bring an end the war in Ukraine

Trump's Russia-Ukraine plan explained: How the US President intends to end the war

Britain's King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, center, speak to teachers and school children as they visit Nansledan School in Newquay, England, Monday, Feb.

King Charles turns tour guide as Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner embark on royal visit to Cornish housing project

a

Labour suspends second MP Oliver Ryan over 'unacceptable' WhatsApp group messages

The parents of the victims of the Southport attack have called for change

'We will never feel true happiness again': Parents of Southport victims pay tribute to daughters as they call for change

Keith Kellogg has reportedly told allies he is preparing 'end of war' options to present to Donald Trump

America's Russia-Ukraine envoy preparing 'end of war options' to present to Trump