Why everyone’s talking about Nish Kumar
Comedian booed and pelted with bread after criticising Boris Johnson and Brexit at charity bash
![nish_kumar.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/URKpz4t2pmK6aqbDgfPBbn-415-80.jpg)
A charity Christmas lunch descended into chaos yesterday when attendees failed to see the funny side during a performance by left-wing comedian Nish Kumar.
Footage from the event in London shows Kumar being forced to leave the stage after his politically charged jokes provoked boos, shouts and jeers, with one outraged audience member lobbing a bread roll.
Who is Nish Kumar?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Kumar is a comedian and host of BBC Two’s The Mash Report, a satirical news show currently in its third season.
The 34-year-old Londoner is outspoken on British politics and a vocal critic of Brexit.
“Last year, on the night of Brexit, a guy told me to ‘go home’ while I was on stage, and that was, for want of a better term, a Falling Down moment for me where I thought: ‘F**k this’,” Kumar told The Guardian in an interview earlier this year.
“I have not got over Brexit,” he added. “When we voted for it, it kind of broke my heart. That anger has not left me.”
What happened at the event?
Kumar - a lifelong cricket fan - agreed to do a set for free at the Lord’s Taverners annual charity cricket lunch.
Founded in 1950 at the Tavern pub at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the charity says it is “dedicated to giving disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance”, by offering opportunities “to engage in sport and recreation in their local communities”.
Tickets to the charity’s Christmas fundraiser, at Park Lane’s Grosvenor House, cost from £149 per head, with some guests paying £270 for a champagne reception.
Kumar’s set started well, but the crowd turned hostile when he criticised Boris Johnson and imperial British rule.
The comedian then denounced Brexit and called for a second referendum, further angering his audience.
Many heckled Kumar, and one member of the crowd threw a bread roll at him.
But Kumar remained unrepentant. In a reference to former Commons speaker John Bercow - who was in the audience - the funnyman said: “I’m not going anywhere... I’m full Bercowing it. Absolutely Bercow. I know you want me to do it but I’m not gonna leave. Absolutely not. Absolutely not.”
The compere was finally forced to jump on stage to persuade Kumar to leave, appearing to push him away while thanking him for giving up his “time to come and support the charity”.
“Now is the time to draw the raffle,” the compere added.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
And the reaction to the row?
Kumar appears to have taken the incident in good humour, tweeting a video of Bob Dylan talking about being booed off stage, and following it up with another tweet saying that the lobbed bread roll didn’t hit him.
BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James was in the audience, and “reprimanded the bread thrower”, says the Daily Mail.
James later tweeted the crowd’s behaviour had been “appalling” and he was “embarrassed to be there”.
But others have condemned Kumar over his set. Lord’s Taverners member Mike Fitchett, who was also at the lunch, told the newspaper: “The Taverners got it totally wrong. I’ve been going for years and I have never seen anything like it.
“The man was just not suitable and it wasn’t the place for him to air his views, which were basically a lefty slant on politics and Brexit. It left a very bad taste.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Biden's enablers may have delayed his bowing out
Talking Points Joe Biden's inner circle faces calls for a reckoning for allegedly shielding the president — and the public — from questions of aging and electoral viability
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The Democrats 'resigned to a second Trump presidency'
Talking Points Did the assassination attempt end Biden's election chances?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Are down-ticket Democrats doomed?
Talking Points President Joe Biden's refusal to step back from his reelection campaign has some local Democrats wondering if their own races are in trouble — but not everyone is worried
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Project 2025 is creating headaches for the Trump campaign
Talking Points Democrats want to make Trump 'own' the controversial plan
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden flopped, but did Trump really 'win' the debate?
Talking Points The president struggled to articulate a clear vision for the country, but Trump's cavalcade of aggressive falsehoods might not do the Republican candidate any favors in the long run
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published