Comedian Greg Fleet says top comedy award should keep Barry name

PRESSURE is mounting in Melbourne comedy circles to rename the Barry Award after Barry Humphries’ recent controversial comments about transgender people. But one high profile funnyman has appealed for calm.

FUNNYMAN Greg Fleet has called for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
to keep the name of its top prize, The Barry Award, after controversial comments from its namesake Barry Humphries.

“I don’t think the name of the Barry Award should be changed,” Fleet told Confidential.

“I don’t think what he said was right and I don’t think he was trying to be provocative, I honestly believe that’s what he thinks. It’s not a very now thing to say but he’s not very now.

Barry Humphries. Picture: David Caird

“He’s been doing pretty much the same thing since the ’70s. Think of the UK comedians, Benny Hill was out of control but he’s revered as an icon now.

“Barry Humphries has probably had more impact here and internationally than anybody else.”

Fleet’s comments followed outrage from local comedians over Humphries recent interview in The Spectator.

Comedian Greg Fleet.

Humphries, best known as Dame Edna, described being transgender as a “fashion — how many different kinds of lavatory can you have?” before adding, “And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers.”

Former Barry Award winners Hannah Gadsby and Zoe Coombs-Marr voiced their outrage yesterday, and suggested Barry’s name be dumped from MICF’s award.

When Gadsby won the 2017 Barry Award she criticised Humphries in her speech.

But Fleet asked: “What are they gonna call it instead, The Fleety Award?”

Confidential has sought comment from MICF director, Susan Provan.

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