Yahoo News Piers Morgan criticises comedy festival for 'uncancelling' Barry Humphries following his death
The Australian festival announced it was planning a "fitting tribute" to the Dame Edna star
Piers Morgan has called the organisers of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival "gutless cowards" for 'uncancelling' Barry Humphries.
The Australian festival announced it was planning a "fitting tribute" to the Dame Edna star following his death at the age of 89.
But their statement comes after they distanced themselves from the Australian comedian in 2019, by renaming their Barry Humphries Award following comments he made about transgender issues.
Morgan tweeted: "You gutless cowards cancelled him for standing up for women’s rights. You don’t get to un-cancel now he’s dead."
Read more: Dame Edna creator Barry Humphries dies in Sydney at 89
You gutless cowards cancelled him for standing up for women’s rights. You don’t get to un-cancel now he’s dead. https://t.co/tn62yOhD5e
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 24, 2023
He was responding to the festival's announcement: "The news of Barry Humphries’ passing in the last 24 hours of the ’23 Fest was momentous.
"From today we re-group and start to plan a fitting tribute to his comic genius and leading role in creating a global platform for Australian comedy."
Humphries — famous for his drag alter-ego Dame Edna Everage — died in a Sydney hospital where he had been admitted suffering complications following hip surgery, it was confirmed on Saturday 22 April.
The top accolade at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was named the Barry Humphries Award in 2000. But in 2019 it was renamed the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award.
Festival director Susan Provan said at the time: "It is time for the award for most outstanding show to be in our name to celebrate the city that inspired the growth of our festival and its outstanding artists.”
Read more: Barry Humphries praises This Morning's Dermot O'Leary for coming out
The move came after Humphries gave an interview to The Spectator in 2018 in which he called being transgender “a fashion,” adding: “How many different kinds of lavatory can you have? And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers.”
In 2016 he told The Telegraph he believed being transgender woman was the same as being "a mutilated man", and called Caitlyn Jenner "a publicity-seeking ratbag".
Watch: King Charles III called Barry Humphries shortly before his death
