Jimmy Carr sparks backlash over ‘despicable’ Russell Brand joke just hours after 10-year sentence
Jimmy Carr has found himself at the center of an online backlash after making a joke about Russell Brand just hours after the former comedian was sentenced to more than a decade behind bars.
Carr, the British comedian and television host known for his sharp one-liners and deadpan delivery, shared a clip from his latest stand-up tour on social media on Monday, November 9. In it, he takes aim at Brand, who had just received a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault.
The moment came after a heckler in the audience asked Carr what he thought about Brand.
“What do I think about Russell Brand? Well, this is interesting. It’s crazy to think that Russell Brand is going to jail for something he didn’t do… get consent.
“I think Russell Brand’s views on sex and consent are going to radically change in the next week.”
The clip was posted on X and quickly attracted millions of views. But while some viewers applauded Carr’s response, others were far less impressed with the timing and accused him of using a serious criminal case to promote his upcoming tour.
One person wrote: “Using the conviction of a disgusting rapist and predator to sell tickets? Really? You may be surprised to learn many of us don’t find anything about Brand a joke.”
Another commented: “Cashing in on this is beyond despicable.”
A third added: “Trying to sell tickets on the back of a rapist being sent down is a scum move.”
Not everyone agreed with the criticism, however. Some users defended Carr, with one describing him as a ‘funny man’ who was ‘telling it like it is’.
