Dawn, there is nothing funny about October 7
Dawn French has become the latest 'national treasure' to betray a complete lack of understanding of the conflict in the Middle East.
Following hot off the heels of that other self-styled Professor of Palestine, Gary Lineker, the comedian insisted there was nothing 'complicated' or 'nuanced' about the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a video posted on X, she put on a whiny childish voice to mock Israelis over invoking the October 7 attacks, in which 1,195 people were murdered.
Credit: X/@Dawn_French
'Bottom line is no,' she insisted. Then, in a childish voice: 'Yeah but you know they did a bad thing to us. [Serious voice] Yeah but no. [Childish voice] But we want that land and there's a lot of history and urgh… [Serious voice] No. [Childish voice] Those people are not even people are they really? [Serious voice] No.'
Like so much of French's output, she appeared under the illusion that she was being funny. In fact, it amounted to an obnoxious and offensive piece of useful idiocy, dressed up as performance art.
Imagine being so warped that you would dismiss the rape and murder of Israeli women – the slaying of children and babies – as 'a bad thing'. The implication is that Israel does not have a right to defend itself. That it has acted disproportionately. But there is nothing remotely proportionate about recording a video about Gaza without even mentioning Hamas.
Almost everyone and everything you can think of is funnier than Dawn French. What's truly hilarious is that these luvvies think they have enough expertise to emote on such issues.
Like your average 'Free Palestine' ranting student marcher, her infantile outburst appeared to have largely been informed by things she's seen on social media.
Anyone with any actual knowledge of the region understands that it is, in fact, an extremely complex issue with a very chequered history. Oh, and that it involves terrorists.
Stunts like this do nothing to advance the debate. They simply debase it with ignorance and intolerance.
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