MONTREAL – The Quebec Human Rights Tribunal has fined Montreal-based comedian Mike Ward $35,000 for repeatedly making fun of a young singer with a disability, Jérémy Gabriel, but concluded – completely unrelated to this case – the practice of blackface is still acceptable in modern Quebec society.
“Mr. Ward’s ‘jokes’ about Jérémy were cruel and unacceptable,” said judge Scott Hughes. “If he was going to pick on someone he should have chosen a politician, a hockey player, or anyone with a different skin colour.”
“I’m no comedian myself, but if he had just chosen something more tasteful, like that classic blackface bit done by Théâtre du Rideau Vert last year, he wouldn’t be in this mess,” he added. “Or the blackface at the Gala Les Oliviers…or Montreal university students impersonating Usain Bolt.”
The Tribunal felt that Ward’s actions in mocking the young man lead to harmful unintended consequences in Mr. Gabriel’s life, school activities and career, adding – once again, not connected to Ward’s jokes – that the general ability for Quebec caucasians to put black paint on their faces and bodies to make gross caricatures of an entire race of people who have historically been harshly mistreated and discriminated against should continue unabated.
Ward’s team acknowledged being disappointed by the decision.
“We are going to appeal,” said Ward’s lawyer Julius Grey. “The punishment is wholly unacceptable, and that stuff about blackface was really out of left field.”
In related news, a group of B list comedians were formulating offensive jokes in hopes of a human rights complaint that would boost their careers.
