Latest news with #ReginaldDHunter
Sky News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Comedian facing case brought by antisemitism charity over 'messages he sent to woman'
US comedian Reginald D Hunter is being privately prosecuted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) over posts he sent to a woman, a court heard. The 56-year-old stand-up is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication to Heidi Bachram on X on 24 August, 10 September and 11 September last year. He was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday but Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram issued a warrant for him to attend court on 7 July in his absence. Prosecutor Donal Lawler told the court that Hunter is a "well-known comedian" who is being privately prosecuted by the charity. It is alleged Hunter sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was "grossly offensive". It's alleged that he then sent two antisemitic messages in the following days. Mr Lawler told the court on Friday that the comedian was due to begin a tour of England and Wales tomorrow. The prosecutor said Hunter was scheduled to do a gig in London on 6 July, adding that his legal team may be able to serve him his court summons in person at the venue on that date. The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to "expose and counter antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law". Stephen Silverman, the group's director of investigations and enforcement, said: "This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course."
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Comedian Reginald D Hunter faces private prosecution over social media posts
Comedian Reginald D Hunter is being prosecuted over alleged antisemitic social media posts, a court heard. The 56-year-old US stand-up is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three different occasions – on August 24, September 10 and September 11 last year – to Heidi Bachram on X, formerly Twitter. He was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday but Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram issued a warrant for him to attend court on July 7 in his absence. Prosecutor Donal Lawler told the court that Hunter is a 'well-known comedian' who is being privately prosecuted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) charity. It is alleged Hunter sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was 'grossly offensive'. On September 10 he is said to have tweeted Ms Bachram saying: 'THIS is why I HATE these people and am committed to their destruction not because JEW hatred Not even because they are European Nazis pretending to be JEWS Because of all the lying. Mama HATED liars and bequeathed that hatred to ALL of her children.' The following day, it is alleged he sent another message saying: 'Hey sugar. I don't hate you for being an agent of evil. Not new Not even uncommon. You being a liar a persistent liar KNOWING the truth, is why I will see you and your kind ended, even if it costs me EVERYTHING. You are not even a JEW. Run tell that.' Hunter regularly tours the UK and has appeared on comedy panel shows Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Mr Lawler told the court on Friday that the comedian was due to begin a tour of England and Wales tomorrow. The prosecutor said Hunter was scheduled to do a gig in London on July 6, adding that his legal team may be able to serve him his court summons in person at the venue on that date. The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to 'expose and counter antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law'. Stephen Silverman, the group's director of investigations and enforcement, said: 'This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.' Hunter's representatives have been approached for comment.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Comic Reginald D Hunter is being privately prosecuted over 'anti-semitic' social media posts one day before he begins UK tour
The comedian Reginald D Hunter is being privately prosecuted over allegedly 'anti-semitic' social media posts one day before he begins a UK tour, it has emerged. The 56-year-old US stand-up is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three different occasions - on August 24, September 10 and September 11 last year - to Heidi Bachram on X, formerly Twitter. He was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court today but Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram issued a warrant for him to attend court on July 7 in his absence. Prosecutor Donal Lawler told the court that Hunter was a 'well-known comedian' who is being privately prosecuted by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism. It is alleged Hunter sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was 'grossly offensive'. On September 10 he is said to have tweeted Ms Bachram saying: 'THIS is why I HATE these people and am committed to their destruction not because JEW hatred Not even because they are European Nazis pretending to be JEWS Because of all the lying. Mama HATED liars and bequeathed that hatred to ALL of her children.' The following day, it is alleged he sent another message saying: 'Hey sugar. I don't hate you for being an agent of evil. Not new Not even uncommon. 'You being a liar a persistent liar KNOWING the truth, is why I will see you and your kind ended, even if it costs me EVERYTHING. You are not even a JEW. Run tell that.' Reginald D Hunter (pictured) was due to appear befire Westminster magistrates today but Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram issued a warrant to attend court on July 7 in his absence Hunter regularly tours the UK and has appeared on comedy panel shows Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Mr Lawler told the court on Friday that the comedian was due to begin a tour of England and Wales tomorrow. The prosecutor said Hunter was scheduled to do a gig in London on July 6, adding that his legal team may be able to serve him his court summons in person at the venue on that date. The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to 'expose and counter antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law'. Hunter's representatives and the CAA have been approached for comment. The charity has posted today on X: 'A warrant has been issued for Reginald D. Hunter to attend court in relation to a private prosecution brought by CAA. 'Mr Hunter is charged with three offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, relating to posts on X that he allegedly published in September 2024. 'The first hearing took place today at Westminster Magistrates' Court, but Mr Hunter failed to appear. A warrant has now been issued for him to attend court on a future date. 'This is one of a number of private prosecutions that CAA is bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.' Hunter previously had a performance cancelled by council chiefs after being accused of 'encouraging a baying mob' to hound out an Israeli couple during one of his performances at last summer's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He was due to perform at a council-owned hall in Scottish town Giffnock, but local authority East Renfrewshire Council axed the show - saying: 'We have a commitment to our community, and to our values of diversity and inclusion, which we take seriously.' Police Scotland initially said they were 'reviewing the circumstances' after being 'made aware of a hate incident which reportedly took place'. They then told MailOnline last August 16: 'All information gathered was fully reviewed and no crime was established.' Hunter had been performing his new standup show 'Fluffy Fluffy Beavers' at Edinburgh Fringe when he made a quip about how watching a recent Channel 5 documentary about domestic abuse had made him think of Israel. Hunter then related a story about how his partner had complained about not being able to access the Jewish Chronicle's website, as it is behind a paywall. He was reported as saying: ''Typical f***ing Jews, they won't tell you anything unless you subscribe.' 'It's just a joke,' he added. His statement on social media came after a couple walked out of one of his gigs at the festival When two Israeli audience members objected to his jokes, they were reportedly sworn at, called 'genocidal' and told 'you're not welcome' by fellow spectators who also shouted: 'Free Palestine.' Hunter took to X at the time to apologise for his part in the incident, claiming it was part of his job as a comedian to 'push boundaries'. The comedian, who is from Albany in the US state of Georgia but has lived in the UK since 1997, insisted he was 'staunchly anti-war and anti-bully'. He added: 'I regret any stress caused to the audience and venue staff members.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Comedian Reginald D Hunter prosecuted over ‘anti-Semitic messages'
Reginald D Hunter, the American comedian, is being prosecuted over alleged anti-Semitic social media posts, a court has heard. The stand-up is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three different occasions – on Aug 24, Sept 10 and Sept 11 last year – to Heidi Bachram on X. He was due to appear at Westminster magistrates' court on Friday, but in his absence Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate, issued a warrant for him to attend court on July 7. Donal Lawler, prosecuting, told the court that Hunter was a 'well-known comedian' who was being privately prosecuted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism. It is alleged Hunter sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was 'grossly offensive'. On Sept 10, he is said to have tweeted Ms Bachram: 'THIS is why I HATE these people and am committed to their destruction not because JEW hatred Not even because they are European Nazis pretending to be JEWS Because of all the lying. Mama HATED liars and bequeathed that hatred to ALL of her children.' The following day, it is alleged he sent another message saying: 'Hey sugar. I don't hate you for being an agent of evil. Not new Not even uncommon. You being a liar a persistent liar KNOWING the truth, is why I will see you and your kind ended, even if it costs me EVERYTHING. You are not even a JEW. Run tell that.' Hunter, who regularly tours the UK, has appeared on the comedy panel shows Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out of 10 Cats. Mr Lawler told the court on Friday that the comedian was due to begin a tour of England and Wales. The prosecutor said Hunter was scheduled to do a gig in London on July 6, adding that his legal team may be able to serve him his court summons in person at the venue on that date. The Campaign Against Antisemitism describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to 'expose and counter anti-Semitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law'.
