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| Barry Humphries: Top comedy prize renamed after transgender row | Barry Humphries: Top comedy prize renamed after transgender row |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| One of the world's top comedy festivals will no longer use comedian Barry Humphries' name for its chief prize, after he was accused of transphobia. | One of the world's top comedy festivals will no longer use comedian Barry Humphries' name for its chief prize, after he was accused of transphobia. |
| The Melbourne International Comedy Festival said its prestigious Barry Award for best show would be renamed. | The Melbourne International Comedy Festival said its prestigious Barry Award for best show would be renamed. |
| Humphries, best known for his character Dame Edna Everage, has repeatedly drawn anger for his comments on transgender people - and later defended himself. | Humphries, best known for his character Dame Edna Everage, has repeatedly drawn anger for his comments on transgender people - and later defended himself. |
| His remarks had "definitely played a part" in the change, the festival said. | His remarks had "definitely played a part" in the change, the festival said. |
| Humphries, 85, has not responded to the festival's decision. | |
| Last year, he drew criticism for describing being transgender as "a fashion". | Last year, he drew criticism for describing being transgender as "a fashion". |
| In another controversy, he claimed to have been speaking in character when he referred to gender-reassignment surgery as "self-mutilation" in a 2016 interview with The Telegraph. He also described Caitlyn Jenner as a "publicity-seeking rat-bag". | In another controversy, he claimed to have been speaking in character when he referred to gender-reassignment surgery as "self-mutilation" in a 2016 interview with The Telegraph. He also described Caitlyn Jenner as a "publicity-seeking rat-bag". |
| He has previously said his comments were misinterpreted, but they have been criticised by other high-profile comedians - including former Barry Award winner Hannah Gadsby. | He has previously said his comments were misinterpreted, but they have been criticised by other high-profile comedians - including former Barry Award winner Hannah Gadsby. |
| Humphries co-founded the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987, and it is now one of the world's premier comedy events. Its top prize has been named in his honour since 2000. | Humphries co-founded the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987, and it is now one of the world's premier comedy events. Its top prize has been named in his honour since 2000. |
| On Tuesday, festival director Susan Provan said in a statement: "It is time for the award for most outstanding show to be in our name to celebrate the city that inspired the growth of our festival and its outstanding artists." | On Tuesday, festival director Susan Provan said in a statement: "It is time for the award for most outstanding show to be in our name to celebrate the city that inspired the growth of our festival and its outstanding artists." |
| She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Humphries' recent comments were "not helpful" and had helped instigate the decision. | She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Humphries' recent comments were "not helpful" and had helped instigate the decision. |
| Gadsby criticised Humphries when she accepted the award in 2017 for her show Nanette, now a worldwide success on Netflix. | Gadsby criticised Humphries when she accepted the award in 2017 for her show Nanette, now a worldwide success on Netflix. |
| "I don't agree with a lot of the things Barry Humphries has said recently," she said at the time. | "I don't agree with a lot of the things Barry Humphries has said recently," she said at the time. |
| "It is not something I will walk past. With full respect, I would like to accept this award just for me." | "It is not something I will walk past. With full respect, I would like to accept this award just for me." |
| Previous winners of the award include Ross Noble, The Mighty Boosh, Demetri Martin and Nina Conti. | Previous winners of the award include Ross Noble, The Mighty Boosh, Demetri Martin and Nina Conti. |