Fans have been horrified by Jimmy Carr Destroys Art (Picture: Getty Images)
Jimmy Carr’s new art show was handed a trigger warning before airing on Channel 4 after being blasted for featuring an artwork by Adolf Hitler.
The 75-minute special sees two experts each defend a controversial painting before the studio audience votes on which one to save, with the other being set on fire.
Among the works of art being debated on Jimmy Carr Destroys Art are those by Rolf Harris, Eric Gill and Hitler, a decision which has been slammed by The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and viewers.
A statement said: ‘There is nothing entertaining or laughable about Hitler, the murder of six million Jews, and the persecution of millions more.’
Before the programme, which featured Janet Street-Porter as an expert, ran on Tuesday, a spokesperson for C4 read out a trigger warning, advising that some viewers may find the contents ‘triggering and offensive.’
Previously explaining Jimmy Carr Destroys Art, Ian Katz, Channel 4’s director of programming said: ‘There are advocates for each piece of art. So you’ve got an advocate for Hitler.
Katz continued to The Guardian: ‘There’ll be someone arguing not for Hitler, but for the fact that his moral character should not decide whether or not a piece of art exists or not.’
An artwork by Hitler was featured on the show (Picture: Bettmann Archive)
It’s not the first time the comedian has been criticised in recent months for being offensive, with many denouncing his Netflix special His Dark Materials.
He said: ‘When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives.’
Jimmy’s show has come under fire (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
At the time, The Traveller Movement, a national charity that challenges discrimation against Irish Travellers, English Romany Gypsies and Roma, tweeted about the clip, saying in a statement: ‘This is truly disturbing and goes way beyond humor. We need all your support in calling this out.’
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added on Twitter: ‘These comments from Jimmy Carr are beyond tasteless.
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‘The targeting of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust is no laughing matter. Deeply offensive. I also don’t understand how this was aired @netflix.’
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added on Twitter: ‘These comments from Jimmy Carr are beyond tasteless.
‘The targeting of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust is no laughing matter. Deeply offensive. I also don’t understand how this was aired @netflix.’
Jimmy Carr Destroys Art will be available to stream on All4.
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Channel 4 said viewers may find it ‘offensive and triggering.’
