‘Won’t be stopping’: Calls to cancel comedian over Dalai Lama joke

A Melbourne comedian has refused to apologise after a joke about the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to suck his tongue attracted protesters to his show.

Calls to cancel comedian over Dalai Lama joke

An Australian comedian has defended his right to free speech after his joke about the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to suck his tongue sparked calls to have a current festival run cancelled.

An open letter from the Australian Tibetans to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival organisers has called for the removal of comedian Lewis Spears from the festival, citing his recent routine that allegedly denigrated the Dalai Lama.

Part of Spears’ ‘Brace Yourself’ set at the festival references a recent video of the Tibetan leader kissing a child on the lips before asking him to suck on his tongue.

The video sparked wide-scale global backlash, though an apology on his behalf from his office sought to explain the bizarre interaction.

“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,” a statement said.

Melbourne comedian Lewis Spears has upset the Australian Tibetan community with recent material about the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to suck his tongue. Picture: YouTube

The routine sparked calls for him to have his show cancelled. Picture: YouTube

A video from Spears’ YouTube video channel published on April 13 likened Dalai Lama to Jesus before making jokes about paedophilia.

The video prompted a large number of Buddhists to make their way to The Rubber Chicken Pub, the host venue, on Tuesday night in protest.

The gathering followed an open letter that morning demanding an apology from Spears’ who they say is “purposely misrepresenting actual facts”.

The letter, shared online by numerous Australian Tibetans, states over 90 per cent of its community in Australia are former political prisoners who have experienced “untold suffering” at the hands of the Chinese.

.@micomfestival our community is deeply hurt by the use of comedy to insult and defame His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Buddhism by @LewSpears based on a manipulated video. This is not funny at all; his comedy shows lack of awareness about Tibetan culture #MentalHealthMatterspic.twitter.com/8850E4STq9

— Canberra Tibetans (@CBR_Tibetans) April 18, 2023

“The past week has been painful for all Tibetans in Australia,” it read.

“We have been re-traumatised by the gross misrepresentation of the Dalai Lama’s in the media.

“It showed no regard for and understanding of the Tibetan cultural context or awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s clever manipulation of false narratives surrounding the situation.”

The letter ultimately requested that Spears either not be featured at the festival or be directed not to include defamatory and derogatory material about the Dalai Lama in his set.

A large number of Buddhists attended his Tuesday night show in protest. Picture: Facebook

Spears asked his fans to respect their right to do so. Picture: Facebook

Spears said he respected the Tibetans right to protest but he would be doing no such thing, stating he “walked through hell” to make his festival run happen.

“I won’t be intimidated, and I won’t be cancelling,” he said in a statement online.

“The followers of the Dalai Lama know the consequences of restricted speech better than just about anyone else on earth.

“You’re free to worship who you like in a free country, just as I am allowed to joke about whoever for whatever reason. That is the foundation of a free nation.

“Sorry, but I walked through hell to do these shows. I won’t be stopping over a protest.”

He asked his fans to be respectful of the protesters.

“Leave them alone, they’re allowed to protest – it is their right and I’m sure it’s going to be nice and peaceful anyway,” he said.

His run of Melbourne Comedy Festival shows concludes on Sunday evening.

Originally published as ‘Won’t be stopping’: Calls to cancel comedian over Dalai Lama joke