Comedy news: New Zealand comic David Fane apologises as anti-Semitic joke backfires

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A comedian in New Zealand has suspended from his radio programme and forced to apologise for making anti semitic and anti HIV remarks.

David Fane has sparked the wrath of HIV and Jewish groups in the country after saying that Jews and HIV sufferers were ‘expendable’ and that Hitler ‘had a right’. 

The comments came during a three-minute spot in an inaugural comedy ‘roast’ where Fane was addressing advertising executives.

Though known for their explicit use of language and often risqué subject matter, Fane caused shock at the ‘Roast’ when he told one member of the audience "I want to eat you, but I won't because I don't want to get HIV. Would you roast an HIV person? You'd roast them because they are expendable. Like the Jews. Hitler had a right, you know."

The comedian has since apologised profusely, saying that the comments were ‘dumb words said by a dumb man’.  Fane has also been suspended from his radio show for a week after meeting with Radio Network chief executive John McElhinney.

McElhinney said: , "While his comments were made in the context of a 'roast', where remarks are often provocative, what he said in this case was definitely inappropriate and we in no way condone the comments."