Comedian berated for Oct 7 massacre joke

Eshaan Akbar
Comedian Eshaan Akbar, seen on QI, said Oct 7 was something ‘involving hummus and sausages at a music festival’ - Fremantle Media/QI Ltd

A comedian who was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef has been accused of mocking the Oct 7 massacres.

Eshaan Akbar posted a message on social media saying that the deadliest day for Jewish civilians since the Holocaust was something “involving hummus and sausages at a music festival”.

The stand-up comedian and former BBC Asian network presenter wrote that the Hamas massacre led to “self-defence against children and their families resulting in over 45,000 deaths”.

Mr Akbar, who has written stand-up shows about anti-Asian racism, has been accused of belittling the massacres that took place in 2023.

His full post on Instagram read: “A year ago today, something mad happened involving hummus and sausages at a music festival that resulted in the self-defence against children and their families resulting in over 45,000 deaths that we in the UK massively helped with! Aren’t we good guys? Big up US!”

The comedian posted the message on the anniversary of the Hamas massacre ahead of his planned gig at the Top Secret comedy club in London on Oct 9, which served as a preview to his upcoming tour.

Alongside his stand up, Akbar co-hosted weekend show on the BBC Asian Network, has appeared in the BBC factual series Pilgrimage, and has also appeared in the Netflix hit Sex Education.

He was also a contestant on the BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef 2024.

Jewish campaigners have accused him of mocking and belittling the Hamas massacres of Oct 7.

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Eshaan Akbar chose to mock the victims. To Mr Akbar, October 7th  might be a laughing matter but to Jews and their allies, it is an ongoing trauma that will take a generation to recover from.

“He joins a growing list of comedians who prefer to use their platform to malign the world’s only Jewish state than actually do their job and tell jokes.

“There’s only one joke here, and it’s Mr Akbar. We will be writing to his representation.”

British comedy has been plagued by controversy since the Hamas terrorists attacked Israel in 2023, prompting an Israeli response which has been condemned by some performers.

In February 2024, the Soho Theatre banned comedian Paul Currie after he “subjected Jewish audience members to verbal abuse”, the venue said.

The theatre consulted with police following in which he allegedly pulled out a Palestinian flag and shouted at an Israeli audience member to “get the f--- out of here”, before leading chants of “Palestine will be free”.

A Jewish audience member has said he felt “hounded out” of a West End comedy show after a row over the Palestinian flag.

In August, two Israeli audience members were booed out of Reginald D Hunter’s comedy gig at the Edinburgh Fringe after they objected to a joke comparing the Jewish state to an abusive spouse.

The American stand-up, 55, subsequently apologised, but had several shows cancelled by other venues.

Representatives for Akbar were approached for comment.