Jimmy Carr’s two-word response to being ‘cancelled’ over controversial Netflix special

Jimmy Carr has offered a two-word response to people bombarding him with backlash over his Netflix special.

The comedian is no stranger to controversy and causing offence with his humour, having claimed he was ‘cancelled’ in 2022 after joking about Roma people murdered in the Holocaust.

Three years after the special His Dark Material launched, he’s bringing out a new stand-up show on Netflix, Natural Born Killer.

However, a first look at his newest offering has already sparked some negative reactions, with people calling his attempt at humour ’embarrassing’.

And now, Jimmy has addressed the responses, saying to viewers trying to ‘get [him] cancelled’: ‘Good luck.’

During an appearance on The One Show on Tuesday, the 8 Out of 10 Cats star explained: ‘Jokes are like magnets. They attract some people, people come to see me and they really enjoy their night out and we have fun, and they’re just jokes, but like magnets, jokes attract and they repel.

‘Some people are repelled by my jokes, and they’re sat at home now, writing to Points of View, trying to get me cancelled. Good luck.’

Jimmy Carr has two words for people ‘repelled’ by his jokes (Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

He added: ‘Criticism is fine, cancellation is the new burning books, whereas criticism is absolutely valid, I’m not for everyone, I’m a strong flavour.’

Jimmy added ‘I quite like that thing of imposter syndrome, feeling a bit like, “Huh, there’s a lot of people turning up to see me, sure hope I’m funny!”’ the comedian began.

‘It’s kind of nice, because you get so used to… playing in front of a thousand people is a privilege, never mind 15,000, but you want to feel a bit out of your comfort zone always.’

Making a quip about his ‘problem with the taxman’, Jimmy joked that he does two shows every evening, one at 7pm and another following at 9.30pm, because ‘it’s one for me and one for them [the taxman].

Jimmy addressed being ‘cancelled’ (Picture: Thomas M Jackson/Getty Images)

‘So come to the second show, because that one’s for me, I care more about it. They’ve never said anything funny. Still got to pay them.’

In Natural Born Killer, Jimmy again discusses being ‘cancelled’, declaring: ‘You can’t go around apologising for jokes, they’re jokes. So I’ve got a plan.’

‘The next time I get cancelled over a joke, I’m going to come out on the day of the cancellation. I’m going to say, I’ve rehearsed this, I’m going to say,’ he then continued in a mocking voice: ‘”I’m sorry.”‘

He goes on: ‘The people that I’ve offended will say, “You don’t really mean that apology.” And I’ll say, “So you say I can say something and not mean it? Now you’re getting it”.’

But when viewers saw the clip advertised on X, many pointed out the same issue.

As user Simon Hewitt put it: ‘I quite like Jimmy Carr – but for someone that has multiple Netflix shows, he does talk about being cancelled a lot.’

Dave Yeboah agreed: ‘Another lucrative, widely advertised deal with the world’s largest streaming service. I wish I’d been cancelled.’

And Ashles complained: ‘Do all Netflix comedians share the same one joke? Because talking at length about all the things you ‘can’t say’ and being ‘cancelled’ for it is getting real … old now.’

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.

Jimmy Carr Natural Born Killer is available to watch on Netflix.

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