KATE Forbes has backed anti-transgender comedian Graham Linehan following a row over a Fringe show cancellation.
The writer and comic was scheduled to be featured in a Comedy Unleashed show at Leith Arches as a"famous cancelled comedian".bosses at Leith Arches said they were no longer willing to host the eventLinehan has been criticised for claiming that the"gender identity movement" is"paedophilic" and previously said that "almost every central trans figure is a nonce".However, Forbes said it was “remarkable” that he had had “such a difficult time”.
Speaking as she appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with comedian Matt Forde, the MSP said: “I think that people pick a target and go after that target and they’re not content until they are destroyed. “But I think it is a really, really scary time to be a comedian because your shows, your art relies in part on causing offence. And some of it I find quite offensive.”She told Forde she had come on stage with him “with an element of trepidation”, saying of his jokes: “They are hilarious, but not when you’re the butt of them.”
Forbes said while comics can cause offence, she added: “Offence needs to be caused and he is a comedian and he’s not inciting violence as far as I can see.
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