An Israeli man and his associates had been allegedly hounded out of London‘s Soho Theatre by a big crowd after comic Paul Currie inspired his viewers to chant ‘get the f*** out’ and ‘free Palestine‘.
The ‘absurdist’ comic from Belfast is alleged to have produced a Palestinian and Ukrainian flag to make use of as props as his one-hour present got here to an in depth on the central London theatre – which was once a synagogue – on Saturday night time.
One member of the 200-strong viewers stated they began to really feel ‘uneasy’ when Currie pulled the flags out and demanded the group stand and applaud – earlier than he then allegedly launched a verbal assault on an Israeli man who stayed sat down.
They claimed: ‘Once we all sat down once more, [Mr Currie] seemed in the direction of a younger man sitting within the second row and stated “You did not stand, why? Did not you take pleasure in my present?”
‘The younger man, who we quickly realised was Israeli, replied: “I loved the present till you introduced out the Palestinian flag”.
‘Paul Currie retorted “get out of my present”, which instantaneously escalated in to screaming at this younger man, repeatedly shouting “depart my f***ing present, now!”.’
Paul Currie is an ‘absurdist’ comic who’s from Belfast. He’s alleged to have informed an Israeli man and his associates to depart his present
The Soho Theatre was the place the surprising incident occurred. It additionally was once a synagogue
The Soho Theatre issued a full apology for the incident and stated that they might be investigating
Paul Currie usually posts pro-Palestine content material and posted this video of himself at a rally
Had been you on the comedy gig? Contact: arthur.parashar@mailonline.co.uk
The comic, who usually shares pro-Palestine content material and attends rallies, allegedly continued shouting on the younger man to get out as he and his accomplice rose to depart.
The attention witness stated additionally they obtained as much as depart and added that it ‘felt like your complete viewers had been on their toes shouting ‘free Palestine’ and ‘get out’.
The Soho Theatre has apologised for the ‘upset and damage’ brought on by the incident to a few of their clients and will likely be investigating what occurred.
They wrote: ‘We’re sorry and saddened by an incident that befell at our venue on the finish of a efficiency of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday 10 of February which has brought on upset and damage to members of viewers attending and others.
‘We take this very severely and are trying into the element of what occurred as completely, as sensitively, and as rapidly as we will.
‘It is very important us that Soho Theatre is welcoming and inclusive place for all.’
Marketing campaign Towards Antisemitism stated they’re aiding Jewish friends who had been allegedly hounded out of the Soho Theatre in London.
A spokesperson for Marketing campaign Towards Antisemitism stated: ‘What the Jewish audience-members have recounted is atrocious, and we’re working with them and our legal professionals to make sure that those that instigated and enabled it are held to account.
‘These allegations are of deeply disturbing discriminatory abuse towards Jews. Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, however hounding Jews out of theatres is paying homage to humanity’s darkest days, and should have no place in central London in 2024.’
MailOnline has contacted Paul Currie for remark.
Paul Currie at a pro-Palestine march
In October final 12 months, the Metropolitan Police reported that anti-Semitic offences have soared in London by more than 1,353 per cent in comparison with the 12 months earlier than.
The horrifying homicide of 1,400 Israelis on October 7 ignited a major spike in hate crime throughout Britain, with 218 anti-Semitic offences reported in London between October 1 and 18, in contrast with 15 throughout the identical interval in 2022.
And the Union of Jewish scholar’s welfare hotline has had greater than 150 calls since October 7, from folks reporting offences together with verbal abuse and intimidation.
In a single incident from October final 12 months, which many Jewish folks discovered terrifying, a tube driver chanted ‘Free, Free Palestine’, through the train’s Tannoy system earlier than some commuters responded, ‘Palestine’.
The motive force has since returned to work – to the disbelief of many.
London bus drivers also allegedly refused to pick up Jewish schoolchildren at the end of November last year.
The Metropolitan Police and Transport for London (TfL) beforehand confirmed they’re trying into two reported incidents, which occurred in Stamford Hill and Hackney final week.
Had been you on the comedy gig? Contact: arthur.parsahar@mailonline.co.uk
