Jimmy Carr sparks backlash for 'beyond despicable' Russell Brand joke

 Jimmy Carr has angered fans by using the Russell Brand trial to promote his new comedy tour in a ‘disgusting’ move.

Earlier today, the former comedian and actor was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after a month-long rape and sexual assault trial.

Brand, 51, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial. He denied the charges.

Just two hours after the sentencing, Carr shared a clip from his new comedy tour taking aim at his ex-colleague.

‘What do you think about Russell Brand?!’ a heckler shouted out in the clip, to which the 54-year-old replied: ‘Well, this is interesting.’

He continued: ‘It’s crazy to think that Russell Brand is going to jail for something he didn’t do… get consent.’

After pausing for applause, the 8 Out of 10 Cats host added: ‘I think Russell Brand’s views on sex and consent are going to radically change in the next week.’

It’s unclear how recently the footage was filmed but the tour, Killing Jokes, will take place next year across the US and UK.

While his audience may have laughed, those on the internet took less kindly to Carr’s joke when he posted it on X.

‘You chose him as a recurring guest on several shows over which you had editorial control for years; What a turncoat & public-posturing grifter,’ replied concentric_PM. ‘When the going gets tough, Jimmy does not.’

‘Cashing in on this is beyond despicable,’ Aromatica365 criticised as Jon Bongles said: ‘Trying to sell tickets on the back of a rapist being sent down is a scum move.’

‘What a hypocrite you are,’ wrote AngryDragon7. ‘I remember you laughing at his ‘jokes’ about raping women. I’m sure you knew nothing about his predatory behaviour (🙄) but you and Rss encouraged this behaviour.’

Vickster51 said: ‘Using the conviction of a disgusting rapist and predator to sell tickets? Really? You may be surprised to learn many of us don’t find anything about Brand a joke.’

Others supported Carr’s joke, with Curtis Johnson calling him ‘a funny man’ and Joel Cardwell branding it ‘very smooth’.

‘@jimmycarr can always be counted on to tell it like it is 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♀️,’ praised Amanda Bryce.

‘Too soon? 🤣,’ questioned sjbarr500, before asking: ‘Wonder what Brand would make of one of his old sparring partners straight out of the blocks like this.’

Carr and Brand worked together on various comedy shows like The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, with a video from 2007 recently resurfacing of them joking about rape alongside Jonathan Ross and Noel Fielding. 

The supposed joke revolved around Lily Allen, who was also a guest on the panel show, with Ross voicing his ‘concern’ for her being in close proximity to Fielding and Brand.

Fielding then interjected: ‘How dare you, we’re not rapists,’ to a big laugh from the studio audience. 

Carr then questioned why Fielding was wearing a cape for the show ‘if [he] wasn’t a rapist’ and the Mighty Boosh star said that he was wearing a Jack the Ripper cape. 

‘He wasn’t a rapist, he was a…,’ Fielding said, prompting Brand to finish the sentence with: ‘Serial murderer.’ 

The Get Him To The Greek actor then added: ‘There is no direct corollary between rapes and capes; it’s just a rhyme. Leave him alone. What if, horror of horrors, he ain’t even done a rape? You could ruin his reputation.’

Brand has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was cleared of two further charges of rape and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.

Sentencing Brand, Mr Justice Bennathan said he had ‘a casual and arrogant disregard for a woman’s right to say no to you’. He will now be on the sex offender’s register for life.

The sentence covers the four charges Brand was convicted of, including nine years for the count of rape.

It also includes nine months for the count three sexual assault, 18 months for the count five sexual assault, and eight months for the count seven sexual assault, with some time taken off due to mitigating factors, the judge said.