Jeff Dunham may be one of the globe’s leading funny men, but in addition to sold-out tours, the ventriloquist’s antics have prompted a lot of controversy.
Performing in Yas Island’s du Forum in May, Dunham will bring a wide range of much-loved characters. Perhaps the most popular is Achmed the Dead Terrorist.
Debuting in 2007 as part of his Comedy Central special, Sparks of Insanity, Dunham introduces the character as a way to understand “the terrorist’s extremist views and beliefs”.
During Dunham’s conversation with Achmed, the crowd eventually learns they are hearing from the skeletal remains of a suicide bomber.
Fans immediately took to Achmed, with more than 40 million people having viewed more than a dozen clips featuring the character on YouTube. However, some controversial comments have resulted in Dunham facing a steady wave of criticism with the character labelled as racist.
In 2008, a South African television commercial promoting an Achmed the Dead Terrorist ringtone was banned, with the country’s Advertising Standards Authority reportedly calling it offensive to Muslims.
Mishal Kanoo, a comedy fan, Dubai resident and deputy chairman of the business company The Kanoo Group, says Dunham’s act is not suitable in the Middle East.
“It’s insulting and defamatory,” he said. “Now some people may say this is humour and it’s all fine and we should accept it. What I am saying is this humour has malice in the way that he is pointing to religion. He is associating terrorism with Islam and terrorism with Arabs. Now you can do that act or whatever you want in your part of the world but to bring it here is irresponsible.”
Kanoo wonders how such an act could even make its way to the UAE.
“I don’t hold Dunhman accountable, but ourselves instead,” he says. “How can we let such things come to this part of the world without anyone saying that this is derogatory and insulting?”
Dunham has repeatedly defended his popular character and said it has never been his intention to offend.
“We make it very plain that Achmed is just this goofy character who doesn’t have his heart in blowing things up,” he told Time Out London in 2010. “I can understand somebody watching this 10-second clip out of context and becoming offended by it. But those people should watch the whole show before you make a complete judgment.”
Flash Entertainment, the promoters for Dunham’s Abu Dhabi performances, were not available for comment.
• Jeff Dunham performs at the du Forum on May 1 and 2. Tickets cost from Dh295 at www.ticketmaster.ae
sasaeed@thenational.ae
