Jo Brand sparks anger by sharing her 'fantasy' of battery acid being thrown over politicians instead of milkshakes
Comedian Jo Brand has sparked anger after she joked about her 'fantasy' that politicians should have battery acid thrown at them instead of milkshakes.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage accused the comedian of inciting violence after she made she made the comments during Victoria Coren Mitchell's Heresy on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday night.
In reply to a question about the state of UK politics, the 61-year-old said: "Well, yes I would say that but that's because certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore and they're very, very easy to hate and I'm kind of thinking: 'Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?
"That's just me. I'm not going to do it, it's purely a fantasy, but I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do, sorry."
In a tweet on Wednesday Mr Farage, who is the leader of the Brexit Party, accused Brand of inciting violence although he did not say who against.
He wrote: "This is incitement of violence and the police need to act."
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan called Brand's comments "disgusting". "This is an incitement for people to throw acid at politicians," he said, adding: "Shame on you, Jo Brand."
But fellow comedian Lee Hurst said: “Jo Brand is a comedian. She has made a joke. You may not find it funny or you may find it funny. Comedy is subjective.
"If you criticise her because you like her target, but defend other jokes of a similar nature against targets you don't like you are a hypocrite.”
Jo Brand is a comedian. #JoBrand
She has made a joke.
You may not find it funny or you may find it funny.
Comedy is subjective.
If you criticise her because you like her target, but defend other jokes of a similar nature against targets you don't like you are a hypocrite.— Lee Hurst (@2010LeeHurst)
Anti-Brexit campaigner Femi Oluwole, referring to the time Mr Farage threatened to "don khaki" and "pick up a rifle" if Brexit wasn't delivered, wrote: "For the record, I do think Jo Brand was VERY irresponsible to say that. Maybe it would have been fine pre-2016 but there are people who might take her words seriously.
"That said, she is literally a comedian. Nigel Farage is a political leader and he said this. So his outrage?"
For the record, I do think Jo Brand was VERY irresponsible to say that. Maybe it would have been fine pre-2016 but there are people who might take her words seriously.
That said, she is literally a comedian. Nigel Farage is a political leader and he said this⬇️ So his outrage?🙄 https://t.co/Ko5AZVfBKm— Femi (@Femi_Sorry)
At the end of show, Coren Mitchell said she hoped Brand's remarks had not caused offence but added that the radio series had been set up to "test the boundaries of what it's OK to say and not say".
The quiz host and television personality, 46, later responded to Mr Farage on Twitter, accusing him of double standards.
She wrote: "Nigel! I'm genuinely disappointed; we don't agree on everything, but I would totally have had you down as a free speech man. Especially when it comes to jokes."
Nigel! I’m genuinely disappointed; we don’t agree on everything, but I would totally have had you down as a free speech man. Especially when it comes to jokes. https://t.co/9Ya7THiAmU
— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren)
Last month Mr Farage was covered in milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle city centre.
He was heard to comment "complete failure" and "I could have spotted that a mile off" as he was ushered away by security following the incident.
The trend of throwing milkshakes at right-wing politicians began when viral footage showed Tommy Robinson having one thrown over him in Warrington.
Since then, several other members of the public have attempted to repeat the unusual protest in an apparent tribute to the original culprit.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative and go against societal norms but are not intended to be taken seriously."