Comic accused of anti-Semitism sells well in Gatineau

A controversial French standup comic will be performing a third show at a western Quebec comedy festival after tickets to his first two shows were quickly snapped up.

The comic, who goes by the name Dieudonné, will be performing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Rire festival in Gatineau, even though he has been prosecuted in France for using anti-Semitic references in his shows. He has never been convicted.

Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president of the festival, said no one should judge the comic's new material unless they've seen it for themselves.

"We took the trouble of going to Paris to see all of his routines," Parent-Bédard told CBC Radio. "We found that the comedy routines he presented were very respectful of different religions, of different communities, and of different viewpoints that exist in the world."

But Steven Slimovitch,who serves aslegal counselto theB'Nai Brith and has attended Dieudonné's shows, said the comic's jokes ridiculing Hasidic Jews and others incite hatred.

"I think it's a very poor … very problematic reflection on the humoristic tastes, for the most part from French Quebecers," Slimovitch said. "And he shouldn't be granted a work permit."

Dieudonné, whose father is from Cameroon,describes himself as anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic.

But Slimovitch said that distinction between the actions of the Jewish state and the Jewish people is often lost onhis audience.

On the other hand,Dieudonné also targets other religions and groups,and Slimovitch saidhe's not sure the jokes are motivated by hate.

"I think Mr. Dieudonné genuinely does not like divisions between people, between groups," he said.

The Grand Rire festival started in Gatineau Thursday and runs until July 9. Its sponsors include the National Capital Commission, Tim Hortons, Home Depot, the City of Gatineau, the Quebec Ministry of Tourism and Radio-Canada.