The British comedy scene has been masking a MeToo scandal where some performers have been accused of sexual harassment and rape jokes. According to a report published on July 3, 2020 in The Times, “dozens of women recounted experiences of degrading treatment”.
The same report stated that several women contacted the publication to “accuse Hardeep Singh Kohli, the comedian, chef and presenter of making unwanted advances towards them”.
Nicola Thorp, of Coronation Street and Doctor Who fame, alleged that Hardeep Singh Kohli made unwanted advances towards her. She tweeted: “I stand in solidarity with the women who have come forward about Hardeep Singh Kohli. I have spoken publicly about his behaviour towards me previously, but was scared to name him for fear of getting into trouble, becoming less ‘employable’ or simply not being believed. He approached me about a project too. A women’s rights documentary he wanted me to co-present. He wanted to come to my house to develop our on-screen chemistry and pick out outfits for me from my wardrobe. He also sent me 3am texts with photos of dresses and HIGH HEELS he thought I would look good in. He told me that he didn’t fancy me, and wasn’t looking for a date, but that he wanted to fuck me when he first met me. When I turned down his advances, the documentary suddenly didn’t exist. I doubt it ever did. He told me he would be good for my career. He Used his position on the board of a charity and a reputable theatre to his advantage. This was a man who had lost a job over inappropriate behaviour, approaching a known women’s rights activist, about a women’s rights documentary. Then went on to appear on celebrity BB as a Direct result of the ‘scandal’. He literally earned money because of what he did. I doubted myself. I wandered if I had encouraged it. If my worth as a presenter was gauged by how willing I was to flirt with a man who made me extremely uncomfortable. I called organisations Associated with him, not necessarily expecting them to take action, but so that they knew he had a track record if another woman came forward. While reading the other women’s accounts it has become clear that he uses the same tactics to approach women. I am so grateful to the Women who have spoken out about him so that he is held accountable. I thank them for putting their head above the parapet. An act that is scary as hell and leaves you open to further abuse from those intent on not believing women. Those intent on Ceasing the cancellation of careers rather than supporting the cancellation of harassment and abuse. It should not require bravery to call out this kind of behaviour. Society must look at itself and question why bravery is currently required. To any woman who feels that they cannot come forward about harassment, please know it is not because you are not brave. But we must do More to make you feel supported and believed. I hope that the testimony of other women helps you feel empowered to speak up. #metoo#timesup.”
She also wrote a column in the Metro and said, “I have wanted to write this piece for three years. Thanks to the women who spoke out before me, I finally can. I don’t believe in karma. If I did, it would mean that I somehow deserved what happened to me. But I do believe in women. In the power we hold when we come together in solidarity against behaviour we refuse to accept.”
Singer-songwriter Sophie Armstrong, alleges that “to play a word association game as part of a work-related project” he turned the conversation into a sexual one pretty quickly. In one of her quotes published in The Times, she said, “I’m a married middle-aged woman with two kids and it left me feeling sick. He continually tried to contact me and asked me if I fancied him and whether I would like to f*** him.” Later, Ms Armstrong blocked him on social media.
Lulu Popplewell, 29, a comedian, also alleged that Hardeep Singh Kohli invited her to “spend the night in his bed” which would boost her career. A similar remark and offer was made to Ivy Paige, a singer and burlesque artist.
Kohli’s association with Assembly is currently under review and he hasn’t commented on the allegations against him. However, Kohli is not the only name mentioned in the MeToo scandal.
Accused of “unacceptable behaviour” and using women for his “personal gratification”, BBC and Channel 4 comedian Tez Ilyas stepped down from and official role and admitted to the alleged accusations, but he denied any kind of sexual abuse. The comedian also took over Jeremy Corbyn’s Instagram account during the Labour leader’s TV Debate with Boris Johnson in November 2019.
Ilyas posted a long statement on Twitter on July 3, which read as follows: “A newspaper report today highlights a MeToo situation in the comedy industry. Sexual abuse is totally unacceptable and needs to be stamped out. The article mentions me and my recent posts on social media. For the record - and as was made clear in the article - I have never engaged in that kind of behaviour. In my (poorly worded) Twitter post on 26 June I apologised for my ‘unacceptable behaviour’. I have subsequently been asked what I meant by that. I was not referring to anything criminal or illegal, but rather to my behaviour at times in the past. In particular the insensitive way I sometimes treated casual relationships. I am not proud of that behaviour and I have moved away from that. I also posted on Twitter on 24 June (Dear men). This was a self-reflection of my own past behaviour - how I was called out by a couple of female friends and how I was trying to be better and encouraging my male colleagues and followers to do the same. I was trying to be supportive of the MeToo movement, but accept that I could have expressed myself better, but I stand by the sentiment I was trying to express, which is that men need to do more to create a better society for women.”
