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Downing Street calls Jimmy Carr's Holocaust joke ‘deeply disturbing’ and 'unacceptable'

A spokesperson for the UK government said it is “toughening measures” for online platforms that don’t tackle harmful content.

DOWNING STREET HAS said Jimmy Carr’s joke about the Holocaust was “deeply disturbing” but it is a matter for Netflix whether the comedian’s show should remain online.

Carr, known for his stand-up and hosting roles on shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats, has been criticised after a clip from his recent one-hour Netflix special, His Dark Material, was shared widely on social media.

In it, the comedian jokes about the horror of the Holocaust and six million Jewish lives being lost before making a disparaging remark about the deaths of “thousands of Gypsies” at the hands of the Nazis as part of the punchline.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Boris said that “those comments are deeply disturbing and it’s unacceptable to make light of genocide”.

The UK Government is “toughening measures for social media and streaming platforms who don’t tackle harmful content”, they said.

Asked whether Netflix should pull the show, the spokesperson said: “That will be a matter for them. We are clear that mocking the atrocities of the Holocaust is unacceptable.”

The UK Government was focused on “making sure that streaming services are more accountable”, he added.

British Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries previously suggested new laws in a Media Bill could hold to account streaming sites for airing jokes such as those made by Carr.

Anti-hate groups such as the not-for-profit organisation Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and The Auschwitz Memorial have condemned the comedian for the joke.

The Traveller Movement, a charity supporting the Traveller community in the UK, has also launched a petition calling for Netflix to remove the segment of the programme “which celebrates the Romani genocide”.

It said the joke in question was “truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour”.

This morning, the country’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Times Radio the joke was “horrid”.

He said: “I think we all have a right to react to that, and one of the best ways anyone can react to that is show these platforms what they think about Jimmy Carr by not watching or listening to him, and that will send him a very strong message.”

Netflix declined to comment.

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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:34 PM

    Amazing that you win one match, and you get into the qualifers

    67
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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:36 PM

    @The Firestarter: the would have got in even if they lost against France, tho likely unseeded

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    Mute Tezmond McVicar
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:55 PM

    @The Firestarter: what are you talking about?

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    Mute David craddock
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    Jul 19th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @The Firestarter: kinda hard not to qualify

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    Mute john kenny
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    Jul 19th 2024, 10:58 PM

    @The Firestarter: zzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 20th 2024, 11:16 AM

    @john kenny: zz

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:44 PM

    Big hard man Damien O’Sullivan giving pelters to women who have achieved more in their lives than he ever will. Damien, you are a troll on the Internet and these woman are representing their country. They stand head and shoulders above people like you. Let that sink in.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @Sun Rise: As ever you are brave behind your keyboard and fake name. The fact you call people trolls while trolling the internet behind tells a lot about the person behind the account.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:12 PM

    @Ger Whelan: you are a vicious piece of work. He is defending the womens team show respect boy.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:24 PM

    @Sean Money: was it Putin’s fault the girls didn’t win all their games?

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:29 PM

    @Ger Whelan: you are a sick puppy. Be happy Ireland won.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:27 PM

    @Sean Money: Erm they didn’t win . They finished bottom of their group with 1 win out of 5 games. Hardly worth celebrating

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:56 PM

    @Sun Rise: I reported you just now.
    Hopefully the last comment you’ll ever make on this.
    I repeat. The current team is useless they were much better under Vera. Constructive criticism, not some misogynistic agenda you’re pushing.
    Suck on that.

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 20th 2024, 12:09 AM

    @Sun Rise: God help the team if they have likes of you ‘looking out’ for them.
    You’ll be hearing from the Journal soon. Bye bye a*****e.

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    Mute Old Times
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:19 PM

    Good draw

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:29 PM

    They’re useless

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    Mute james rowan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:31 PM

    @Damien O’Sullivan: i hope your talking about FFG,,,

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:58 PM

    @Damien O’Sullivan: Damien give that phone back to your mother until you mature a bit like a good little boy.

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:49 PM

    @James Leahy: Just criticising the current team. They were better under Vera.
    Why don’t you run off and troll elsewhere fool. You have no idea what you’re talking about

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 10:04 PM

    @james rowan: Yeah them too

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:04 PM

    Nobody is interested in women’s soccer, it’s just not very good

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:44 PM

    @Auld Lad: 16 000 in Pairc Ui Caoimh.

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:58 PM

    @Auld Lad: another Immature small boy pretending to be an Auld lad.

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:15 PM

    @James Leahy: oh look, here’s the white Knight on his steed, getting offended on behalf of women everywhere

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:16 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: been to bigger raves

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:32 PM

    @Auld Lad: yeah we can tell…oh the irony

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    Mute Niall English
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    Jul 20th 2024, 11:14 AM

    @Auld Lad: doubt you’ve left your mother’s basement in the past ten years.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:10 PM

    No stopping them now after they beat France so easily

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