Comedian Dane Baptiste behind BBC shows sparks fury over ‘anti-Semitic’ death threat to female comic
DANE Baptiste has sparked a backlash after posting an ‘anti-Semitic’ death threat about a female comedian.
He has since deleted the Instagram story which addressed an unnamed fellow comic, who he branded a “Zionist” and claimed was “stalking” his family online.
In it, he tells the unnamed target to imagine what the lives of her husband and children would be like “without you”, adding that “comedians will tell you I will be at your literal doorstep”.
Baptiste, 42, has appeared on programmes including Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, and Richard Osman’s House Of Games.
He has since deleted the Instagram story and apologised for his “actions to the Jewish community”.
In the now-deleted post which sparked the row, he wrote: “A quick message to the Zionist comedian stalking my family’s page.
“I want you to sit down with your husband and kids and imagine what their lives will be without you, b/c north London is a quick trip to make and a Think Tank will have to be an actual tank to keep you safe from me.
“Ask about and comedians will tell you I will be at your literal doorstep. Your agent won’t keep you safe. And I’ll sit in prison while your family sit at the cemetery.
“First and last warning. Your act is dumb but don’t be a dumb woman. For your own safety.”
The Jewish comedian thought to be the target of the post wishes to remain anonymous, according to comedy news outlet Chortle.
The post sparked a backlash from fellow comics.
Marcus Brigstocke said: “The threat made by Dane Baptiste against a woman on IG wasn’t vague & cannot be justified.
“It was targeted & dangerous. Driven (imo) by antisemitism & misogyny.
“I refuse to look the other way & stay silent while only Jewish friends speak up. Hatred & racism like this has to end.”
Lee Kern called it “the most chilling, sincere and credible death threat against a Jewish woman”.
Baptiste has now admitted to a “massive error of judgement”, which is reportedly being investigated by police.
In a new post this afternoon, Baptiste wrote: “In the recent past, I have received a number of threatening and abusive messages from accounts accusing me of antisemitism for having pro Palestinian views.
“I have a new family and my partner made me aware that some of these same people were monitoring her instagram account.
“In a massive error of judgement, I posted an excessive and impulsive response, hoping to dissuade anybody monitoring my family.
“I made a point to say Zionist and not Jewish, but I appreciate how disturbing, threatening and incendiary that language is, I would categorically state I have no ill intention towards the Jewish community and never have.
“I have a loving family of which I am massively protective of; I reacted poorly and emotionally to a perceived threat with no considered thought to the consequences, and I apologise profusely for my actions to the Jewish community, my collegaues [sic] and my fans.”
The Sun has contacted Insanity Group – Baptiste’s agents – for comment, but the comedian’s profile has been deleted from their website.
