A comedian has been accused of belittling the 1,200 victims of the October 7 attacks.
Eshaan Akbar wrote on social media that the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust was something ‘involving hummus and sausages at a music festival’.
The former BBC Asian network presenter posted the message on Instagram to mark the first anniversary of the attack.
He said: ‘A year ago today, something mad happened involving hummus and sausages at a music festival that resulted in the self-defence against children and their families resulting in over 45,000 deaths that we in the UK massively helped with!
‘Aren’t we good guys? Big up US!’
The former Celebrity MasterChef contestant, has been criticised for ‘mocking’ the victims of the attack
Picture Shows: Tez Ilyes, Eshaan Akbar, Nish Kumar, Isma Almas, Emily Lloyd Saini, Anuvab Pal on The Big Asian Stand Up
He shared the message ahead of his planned gig at the Top Secret comedy club in London on October 9.
The former Celebrity MasterChef contestant, has since been criticised for ‘mocking’ the victims of the attack.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘On the first anniversary of 7th October 2023 – the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust – Eshaan Akbar chose to mock the victims.
‘To Mr Akbar, 7th October might be a laughing matter but to Jews and their allies, it is an ongoing trauma that will take a generation to recover from.
‘He joins a growing list of comedians who prefer to use their platform to malign the world’s only Jewish state than actually do their job and tell jokes. There’s only one joke here, and it’s Mr Akbar. We will be writing to his representation.’
MailOnline has contacted Mr Akbar for comment.
The controversy comes after comedian Paul Currie was banned from Soho Theatre after he ‘hounded out’ a Jewish audience member ‘because he refused to applaud a Palestine flag’ during his show.
Paul Currie, who is accused of encouraging a crowd at his show to chant ‘get the f*** out’ and ‘free Palestine’, performing at a separate gig in Belfast in 2013
Liahav Eitan (pictured) was ‘hounded out’ of London’s Soho Theatre by comedian Paul Currie
Soho Theatre, where the incident occurred, has said the under fire comedian will not be invited back to perform at the venue
Currie was accused of encouraging the crowd to chant ‘get the f*** out’ and ‘free Palestine’ at Israeli ticketholder Liahav Eitan at the London theatre in February.
Soho Theatre subsequently said the comedian would not be invited back to perform at the venue, adding that his actions were ‘unacceptable and have no place on our stages’.
The company said it would not tolerate ‘intimidation of audience members, acts of antisemitism or any other forms of racism’.
Furthermore in August, two Israeli audience members were booed out of a comedy gig by Reginald D Hunter at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The pair had objected to a joke that made a comparison between Israel and an abusive spouse.
The American comedian, 55, was subsequently axed from a performance at a council-owned hall in Scottish town Giffnock.
Local Conservative councillor Paul Edlin accused Hunter of ‘encouraging a baying mob’ to hound out the Jewish couple.
Hunter took to X to apologise for his part in the incident, claiming it is part of his job as a comedian to ‘push boundaries’.
Under-fire comedian Reginald D Hunter was axed from an upcoming stand-up show after an Israeli couple were ‘hounded’ and booed out of his Edinburgh Fringe gig
The American, 55, was due to perform at a council-owned hall in Scottish town Giffnock, but the local authority has cancelled the show
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