Melbourne Comedy Festival shares tribute to Barry Humphries after he removed his name from an award following his ‘transphobic comments’
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival shared a tribute to Barry Humphries after his death on Saturday.
Humphries, who was instrumental in the creation of the popular comedy festival, died aged 89 at Sydney’s St Vincents Hospital, where he was treated for complications from hip surgery earlier this year.
“We are saddened by the passing of comics legend Barry Humphries,” the comedy festival wrote on social media.
‘Having started his career in Melbourne, Barry’s early support, along with Peter Cook, helped put the festival on the map nationally and internationally. With festival founder John Pinder, Barry was part of a creative generation that celebrated and developed a global platform for Australian comedy.’
He will be remembered by legions of fans around the world for his humour, inimitable characters and caustic satire. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Val Barry.’
The Melbourne Comedy Festival has shared a tribute to Barry Humphries after dumping the comedy festival’s named after him award over his ‘transphobic comments’
In 2019, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival removed Humphries’ name from an award after “transphobic comments” he made the previous year.
Since 2000 they had the Barry Award, given to the most outstanding show, but renamed the gong to the ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award’.
It came after Humphries claimed in 2018 to be a “transgender is a fashion.”
‘How many different types of toilets can you have? And it’s pretty bad when it’s preached to kids by crazy teachers,” Humphries told The Spectator magazine.
In 2016, Humphries, who is best known for his drag character Dame Edna Everage, referred to sex reassignment surgery as “self-mutilation.”
He also criticized Caitlyn Jenner as a “publicity-seeking ratbag” for wanting to “steal the spotlight” from the other women in her family.
The comedy festival shared photos of Humphries on social media, writing: ‘We are saddened to hear of the passing of comics legend Barry Humphries’
Humphries died surrounded by his immediate family, including his wife of 30 years Lizzie Spender, his children Tessa, Emily, Oscar and Rupert, and 10 grandchildren.
Humphries, who has lived in London for decades, came back to Sydney for Christmas in December.
He subsequently suffered a fall that led to his hip replacement surgery.
“He was completely himself to the end and never lost his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity,” his family said in a statement.
Humphries died aged 89 at St Vincents Hospital in Sydney, where he was treated for complications from hip surgery earlier this year.
Performing on stage for over 70 years, Humphries was ‘an entertainer at heart’ who loved his audience and never took them for granted.
But he was also a painter, writer, poet and art collector.
He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives,” his family said.
“The characters he created, who made millions of people laugh, will live on.”
Performing on stage for over 70 years, Humphries was ‘an entertainer at heart’ who loved his audiences and never took them for granted
