Melbourne Comedy Festival shares tribute to Barry Humphries after removing his name from an award following his ‘transphobic comments’
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival shared a tribute to Barry Humphries following his death on Saturday.
Humphries was instrumental in the establishment of the popular comedy festival, but fell out of favour with its owners several years ago after criticised transgenderism.
‘We are saddened to hear of the passing of comic legend Barry Humphries,’ the comedy festival wrote on Instagram, opting to turn off comments so that fans couldn’t respond.
‘Having started his career in Melbourne, Barry’s early support, along with Peter Cook, helped kick off and raise the profile of the Festival nationally and internationally. With Festival founder John Pinder, Barry was part of a creative generation who celebrated and developed a global platform for Australian comedy.’
‘He will be remembered by legions of fans around the world for his wit, inimitable characters and biting satire. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Vale Barry.’
The Melbourne Comedy Festival has shared tribute to Barry Humphries after dumping award named after him from comedy festival over his ‘transphobic comments’
Back in 2019, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival dumped Humphries’ name from an award following ‘transphobic comments’ he made the year prior.
They’d had the Barry Award, awarded to the most outstanding show, since 2000 but renamed the gong the ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award’.
It came after Humphries claimed being a ‘transgender is a fashion’ in 2018.
‘How many different kinds of lavatory can you have? And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers,’ Humphries told The Spectator magazine.
The comedy festival shared photos of Humphries to social media and wrote: ‘We are saddened to hear of the passing of comic legend Barry Humphries’
In 2016 Humphries, who is best known for his drag character Dame Edna Everage, referred to gender re-assignment surgery as ‘self mutilation’.
He also criticised Caitlyn Jenner as a ‘publicity-seeking ratbag” for wanting to steal the limelight’ from the other women in her family.
Humphries died surrounded by his immediate family, including his wife of 30 years Lizzie Spender, his children Tessa, Emily, Oscar and Rupert, and 10 grandchildren.
Humphries, who has lived in London for decades, came back to Sydney in December for Christmas.
Humphries died aged 89 at St Vincents Hospital in Sydney where he was being treated for complications stemming from hip surgery earlier this year
He subsequently suffered a fall that led to his hip replacement surgery.
‘He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit,’ his family said in a statement.
Humphries spent more than 70 years on the stage and was ‘an entertainer to his core’ who loved his audiences and never took them for granted.
But he was also a painter, author, poet and collector of art.
‘He was also a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a friend and confidant to many. His passing leaves a void in so many lives,’ his family said.
‘The characters he created, which brought laughter to millions, will live on.’
Humphries spent more than 70 years on the stage and was ‘an entertainer to his core’ who loved his audiences and never took them for granted
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