Popular stand-up comedian Frankie Boyle has had a booking turned down by The Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) due to the controversy over his joke about Katie Price and her eight year-old son Harvey on a TV broadcast in December 2010.The venue, situated in Cardiff, has defended their decision not to host the comic by saying: "The centre made a programming decision not to take this booking at that particular time".
After Boyle was censured by the media watchdog Ofcom for appearing to "target and mock the mental and physical disabilities" of Harvey, the Centre which is "home to the Touch Trust, a charity which provides arts activities to people of all ages with the most profound disabilities, decided not to allow the comedian to appear on it's stage. The spokeswoman speaking on behalf of the Wales Millennium centre said: "Wales Millennium Centre prides itself on its accessibility policies and is home home to a number of arts organisation as well as a disability charity".
Mother of Harvey, Katie Price, complained to Ofcom after the Glaswegian comedian poked fun at her disabled son during his Channel 4 show. There were 500 upheld complaints by the public to Ofcom regarding Boyle's routine last April. Channel 4 have said that the during the show Boyle had not intended his comedy "as a slur on any particular community" but in "Frankie's eyes"
"everyone is fair game".
Despite the slurs upon Boyles character he is still starting a summer tour in July, entitled 'The Last Days of Sodom', he wanted to include Cardiff in his line-up of venues but it seems the WMC 1,900- seater theatre did not welcome him when they were approached last year.
Boyle's management company have not yet commented on these issues.
Article by Michelle
