Australian comedian Jim Jefferies has spoken out about his shocking encounter with a heckler last week.
The 47-year-old comedian was performing a show in Perth on the first date of his Give ‘Em What They Want tour when the man was removed by security after causing a stir.
Appearing on Channel Ten’s The Project on Friday, Jefferies joked that the man was under the influence of an illicit substance.
“We get booed at every show,” the outspoken comedian said during the interview.
“It just so happens that guy was on ice… I might as well sweeten it up.”
Jefferies then joked: “(The ice) actually looks like sugar, doesn’t it?”
On a more serious note, the 1% Club host explained that he wasn’t sure what “set him off.”
Jefferies said the incident began just after he made a joke about the US presidential election.
Jim Jefferies has spoken out about a confrontation he had with a heckler last week. The 47-year-old comedian was performing a show in Perth when the man was ejected by security after causing a ruckus.
During the joke, Jefferies named Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and then heard a voice in the crowd shout, “pick a side.”
Jefferies said he then saw the man get up and fall flat on his face. When the heckler got back to his feet, the Australian fan favourite said he saw blood on his face.
The angry heckler had to be removed by HBF Stadium security after he made his way onto the stage where Jefferies was performing.
Radio host Robbie Von Klitzing, who filmed the incident on his phone and posted it on social media, said while it started out funny, it quickly got worse.
“Jim Jefferies was making some jokes about Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he said.
Shocking footage has captured the moment Australian comedian and TV presenter Jim Jefferies’ jokes about US politicians including Donald Trump and Joe Biden sparked an angry response from an audience member.
The man (pictured) shouted “pick a side” at Jefferies after the comedian mentioned Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a joke about the US presidential election.
‘And for some reason, this is the point where someone in the audience really took issue with it, and all of a sudden we can hear in the background a guy yelling ‘F’s’ and ‘C’s’ and we look around, he’s standing, he’s pointing, he’s going crazy!’
Jefferies then launched into a verbal response at the heckler, which only served to further inflame the situation.
The veteran comedian then decided that the best way to calm things down was to give the agitated man some time to vent his anger.
But the man chose that moment to suddenly fall silent.
“So this guy had his 10 seconds, he didn’t say anything and then Jim started to go off again,” Von Klitzing said.
“And this guy in the crowd started walking toward the stage… He was going to fight Jim Jefferies, if he had the chance.”
Jefferies has been beaten twice by rioters, one of whom was caught on camera in 2007 at Manchester’s The Comedy Store in a now infamous video (pictured)
Security then intervened before the man got close enough to attack him and he was removed from the scene.
“He rammed him and the security guards dragged him out. It was unbelievable!” Von Klitzing said.
As the man was led out the door, Jefferies attacked him again, saying, “When you can afford 10 bodyguards, you can fight me. I have more protection than Trump’s son!”
This isn’t the first time viewers have tried to bash Jefferies for doing what they paid to see him do: tell jokes.
The first two people to do it succeeded: one of them was caught on camera doing it at The Comedy Store in Manchester, England, in 2007.
“If you Google ‘Jim Jefferies hit,’ you’ll see what people do to me when they boo me,” he told Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington on Sunrise in May.
“I’ve been punched twice on stage, but only once was it caught on video. I’m not the best (at dealing with troublemakers),” he said.
There was a lot of support online for Jefferies after the latest objection to his jokes.
“Paying hundreds of dollars to attend a comedy show and then getting offended by a joke! More money than common sense,” wrote one.
“Why are Trump supporters so violent?” asked another. “Is it an educational problem because Trump says he loves those with low education? Or is it an emotional problem?”
‘Anyway, that fool paid good money to see a show and then the genius got kicked out.’
Jefferies’ tour continues through Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Townsville.
Jefferies’ tour continues through Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Townsville.
