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Canadian Comedian Ordered to Pay $35,000 over a Joke
PJ Media ^ | 12/01/2019 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 12/01/2019 10:17:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Canadian comedian Mike Ward has lost his appeal and has been ordered by a Quebec judge to pay $35,000 because of a joke he told about a disabled boy.

Ward was ordered to pay $35,000 to Jeremy Gabriel, who suffers from a genetic disorder that causes facial deformity and affects his hearing, due to a joke the comedian told at shows between 2010 and 2013. Two of three judges ruled Mike Ward’s comments regarding Gabriel were not justifiable in a society where freedom of expression is valued.

Ward was originally ordered to pay an additional $7,000 to Gabriel’s mother—a fine which the courts overturned due to the indirect relationship between the joke and the boy’s mother.

The joke in question was regarding Gabriel’s disability. In 2005, Gabriel sang to Pope Benedict and Celine Dion to flesh out his dream of becoming an international singer.

Ward’s jokes called Gabriel a bad singer, stating that he was “terminally ill” and that Gabriel not passing away meant that his “Make a Wish” was invalid. Gabriel was not actually terminally ill, as Gabriel’s genetic disease—Treacher Collins syndrome—does not generally have an effect on lifespan. He was also not a Make-a-Wish kid, as Ward was embellishing the story for the sake of the joke.

Ward’s jokes make have been tasteless, but does that mean he should have to pay $35,000? I don’t think so, but the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal ruled the joke was discrimination against Gabriel and his parents and ordered Ward to pay damages for “making discriminatory comments regarding Jéremy Gabriel, infringing his right to equality.”

Here’s a Mike Ward special from earlier this year where he talks about what’s happened to him. Please note there’s plenty of offensive language in it.

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO ...

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Humor; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: canada; comedy; fine; jeremygabriel; joke; mikeward; treachercollins
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1 posted on 12/01/2019 10:17:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Canada hasn’t had a sense of humor in years.


2 posted on 12/01/2019 10:18:12 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: SeekAndFind
Two of three judges ruled Mike Ward’s comments regarding Gabriel were not justifiable in a society where freedom of expression is valued.

Doublespeak nonsense. They obviously do not value freedom of expression.

3 posted on 12/01/2019 10:25:08 AM PST by southern rock
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To: billorites
And will now join us and GB in the fight against insanity and alien invasion ....

We CAN put Satan on the run


2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

4 posted on 12/01/2019 10:25:56 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true..)
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To: SeekAndFind
Not only was it tasteless, it was funny-less.

Still not right that he was fined for telling it. But, hey, that's Canadia's business.

5 posted on 12/01/2019 10:26:42 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: SeekAndFind
In 2005, Gabriel sang to Pope Benedict and Celine Dion to flesh out his dream of becoming an international singer.

This makes the kid a public figure, But of course, Canada wouldn’t care about that.

6 posted on 12/01/2019 10:26:53 AM PST by southern rock
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To: billorites

I didn’t know making fun of a disfigured kid whose dream was to sing in front of the Pope was humor.

I’m not saying he should have been fined but he does sound like a piece of s***


7 posted on 12/01/2019 10:27:43 AM PST by dp0622 (Radicals, racists Don't point fingers at me I'm a small town white boy Just tryin' to make ends meet)
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To: Texas Eagle

Remember when comedians were actually funny?


8 posted on 12/01/2019 10:29:25 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: billorites
Canada hasn’t had a sense of humor in years.

With all of their hockey hullaballoo, and that bitch Anne Murray, too!

9 posted on 12/01/2019 10:30:47 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind

R.A. Lafferty wrote, “There is a secret society of only four persons that manufactures all the jokes of the world. One of these persons is unfunny and he is responsible for all the unfunny jokes.”


10 posted on 12/01/2019 10:31:15 AM PST by Montaignes Cat
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To: billorites
Probably the only humorous thing a Canadian has ever come up with is Burton Cummings doing an impression of Gordon Lightfoot singing Rod Stewart's "Maggie May"
11 posted on 12/01/2019 10:32:11 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: SeekAndFind
This is Jeremy Gabriel

I might add he is also deaf due to his condition.

12 posted on 12/01/2019 10:35:58 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: Montaignes Cat

Haven’t seen that name in decades.


13 posted on 12/01/2019 10:36:07 AM PST by kallisti (OLDTHINKERS UNBELLYFEEL INGSOC)
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To: dfwgator

Vaguely. Anymore I consider it a victory when I remember why I went into the kitchen.


14 posted on 12/01/2019 10:36:36 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Texas Eagle

That’s very funny.


15 posted on 12/01/2019 10:37:34 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: SeekAndFind

16 posted on 12/01/2019 10:39:33 AM PST by TADSLOS (You know why you can enjoy a day at the Zoo? Because walls work.)
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To: SeekAndFind

A pox on all their houses: The “so-called” Comedian, and the Canadian government.


17 posted on 12/01/2019 10:40:03 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

YES!! I knew CrapGame.


18 posted on 12/01/2019 10:41:03 AM PST by eyeamok
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To: dfwgator

I am firmly convinced that somewhere, in one of the possible millions of alternate universes, there is a funny version of Stephen Colbert. I mean, it’s at least possible right? Right?


19 posted on 12/01/2019 10:43:54 AM PST by Hardastarboard (Three most annoying words on the internet - "Watch the video")
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To: SeekAndFind

Canada’s Human Rights Commissions have obviously been kangaroo courts since Mark Steyn’s troubles with them. And I say that from an American perspective, and we generally pay very little attention to Canadian politics. That we even know about this shows how notorious these courts are.


20 posted on 12/01/2019 10:49:02 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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