Sue Perkins attacks rape joke comedians
The Great British Bake Off star Sue Perkins has condemned rape joke comedians and said that she is worried that comedy is becoming sectarian.
Anna Richardson, the presenter of Secret Eaters today revealed that she and Perkins are in a relationship, resulting in the pair trending around the world on social media. But Perkins has more to say than simply about being in love.
In an interview with Radio Times she has said that she is worried about the jokes made by some male comedians, including Dapper Laughs, real name Daniel O’Reilly, who was sacked by ITV last year after rape jokes made by him emerged online.
“It’s not all right to make rape jokes,” Perkins said. “I think comedy has become very tribal and worryingly sectarian.
“There are some fantastic female comics who are doing really well and they have been labelled ‘feminist comics’ and therefore a small section of male comics have decided to react against that and do material that is provocative and incites almost hatred against women, where the word ‘rape’ is a punch line. And that is to their discredit and to their shame.”
The Bake Off Star added: “I think it has to do with the culture of pornography and the fact that pornography has twisted gender relations so hugely that intimacy has been put on the back foot and, instead, everything is out there and women are pieces of meat.
“Pornography implies that women are there to be abused, and they love it. And it’s important not to demonise men – because they are as affected by pornography as women, and they have huge pressure to perform in this grotesque, unemotional, robotic, macho way – and it destroys the fabric of love and intimacy. And also diversity – because the vast majority of human beings are slightly lumpy and slightly misshapen and all the more gorgeous and interesting for it – but not if you watch pornography.”
Perkins, who will star in a new show with long time comedy partner Mel Giedroyc for ITV added: “Some of the women who are deemed feminist – well, they are feminists – are making beautiful shows and telling incredible jokes and it’s never been a better time to be a young female comic.”
