Dawn French apologises for ‘Oct 7 attacks' video

Telegraph

10 hours ago

Dawn French has apologised 'unreservedly' after she posted a 'one-sided' video in which she appeared to dismiss the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7.
The 67-year-old comedian and actress was accused of belittling the attacks in a clip she put on social media in which she claimed the murder of 1,200 people was 'a bad thing'.
In the video, posted on X on May 5, she mimics apparent defences of Israel's huge military campaign in Gaza.
She was accused of appearing to belittle the Hamas-led murders of 1,200 people and adopting a 'mocking' tone.
On Saturday, she removed that video and issued an apology, adding that she was 'sorry' her 'disgust at Hamas didn't figure'.
The message, also on X, says: 'Ok, it's important to address this. I posted a video in the style I've been using for social media in an effort to convey an important point. I clumsily used a mocking tone.
'My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal, unthinkable, unforgivable, savage attack.'
She said her 'heart broke' for the innocent people 'killed, tortured, r@aped [sic] and kidnapped', adding that it was 'appalling' that hostages were still being held.
She insisted that her 'intention was to mock and point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on ALL sides of this attricious [sic] war, who have continued to behave like the worst, dangerous, sickening bullies and seem to relish the tyrannical and childish one-upmanship of violence.'
She added she was 'feeling increasingly helpless and hopeless as we witness the carnage and destruction worsen', adding how she was 'haunted … day and night ' by 'images of starving children.'
The Vicar of Dibley actress wrote: 'History has taught us never to stand by and allow this kind of inhumane violence to be wrought on anyone, especially innocent children.
'I have felt my silence is complicit or even somehow sanctioning. So in my small way, I wanted to voice my desire to say NO - to both sides - to any further violence.
'I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but clearly I have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video.'
She was accused of adopting a baby-like face in the original 40-second video.
She filmed herself saying: 'Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no.'
She went on: ''Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us'... Yeah, but no.
''But we want that land and there's a lot of history…'. No. 'These people are not even people, are they really?' No.'
The video was viewed more than half a million times in the 24 hours after it was posted.
Tracy-Ann Oberman, an actress who has appeared in numerous West End shows, accused the comedian of adopting a 'mocking' tone.
Comedy writer and self-described 'champion of Jewish rights' Lee Kern wrote: 'What you sneeringly mock as a 'bad thing' included the grieving children I met in hospital whose friends and family had been murdered, kidnapped and raped and who themselves were coming to terms with their own life-altering injuries.
'It also includes the 1,200 people murdered and tortured on October 7th… you proactively broadcast – with misplaced pride – a wicked glee in your mockery and dismissal of Jewish suffering, pain and death.'
Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas's terrorist attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
There are now 56 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Israel was criticised by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, for its recent 'appalling' military action, describing the conduct of Benjamin Netanyahu's government as 'intolerable' following claims that more than 50,000 people, including many women and children, had been killed by Israeli forces.