Famous British comedian David Walliams has criticised “cancel culture”.
Speaking ahead of a series of live shows in Australia next month, the 53-year-old author and co-creator of the risqué satirical TV series Little Britain said: Comedy must have a special touch to be explosively funny.
“This is all exhausting, isn’t it?” he said. The Daily Telegraph of the “woke” trend that has seen shows pulled from broadcast and comedians cancelled.
“Things that are explosively funny are often on the edge, right?” the comedian continued.
‘(The subject) is complicated, but you just have to look at each joke as it really arises.
‘Obviously, if you were worried that every single thing you said or did might offend someone, you wouldn’t be able to say or do anything on stage.
“I don’t think people have lost their sense of humor as it is often portrayed.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Walliams said he thought the point of comedy was to “make people happy”.
Famous British comedian David Walliams (pictured) criticised “cancel culture”
Walliams found himself at the brunt of “cancel culture” when the show he co-created with Matt Lucas in 2003, Little Britain, was pulled from Netflix in 2022 (pictured)
Walliams found himself on the receiving end of “cancel culture” when the show he co-created with Matt Lucas in 2003, Little Britain, was taken off the air in 2022.
The hit sketch show, which poked fun at British social stereotypes, included segments featuring white actors in blackface.
In an apparent reaction to the Following Black Lives Matter protests, Netflix pulled the show along with Come Fly With Me, also created by Walliams and Lucas.
Later, the BBC and BritBox confirmed they had also decided to axe Little Britain, saying “times have changed” since the show first aired.
The hit sketch show, which poked fun at British social stereotypes, included segments featuring white actors in blackface.
The shows include scenes in which comedians portray characters of different ethnic backgrounds using makeup.
The British comedian will debut his world premiere tour An Audience with David Walliams in Sydney at the Darling Harbour Theatre on September 6.
It comes later Walliams and Kate Ritchie have revealed the truth about on-set flirting rumours while starring together on the 2022 season of Australia’s Got Talent.
The 45-year-old British comedian and Australian radio star sat down on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie in May to discuss the rumours, and Kate couldn’t resist praising her co-star.
“When I sat next to David we connected on so many things… we connected on his wardrobe,” she gushed.
‘I’m talking about Chris Hemsworth, who wore a Tom Ford to the Met Gala the other day.’
“I was hoping that next time I was in Australia we would be sitting around the desk together sharing stories and talking about fashion,” she added.
Walliams is pictured with the cast of Australia’s Got Talent and Kate Richie, second from right.