Comedian’s Nazi uniform joke sparks debate and mixed reactions online
Jimmy Carr has stirred controversy after liking Harry to rapper Kanye West during a recent stand-up performance.
Responding to an audience question about whether he preferred Prince William or Harry, Carr quipped: “The royal family – well, if you can imagine, they’re like our Kardashians. Prince Harry is very much our Kanye. He occasionally dresses like a Nazi – and he f***ed up.”
The joke referred to the 2005 incident in which Harry, then 20, wore a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, prompting widespread criticism and a public apology. Kanye West, meanwhile, has been condemned for remarks seen as anti-Semitic, later claiming to have renounced those views.
A clip of Carr’s comments, posted to his Instagram account with 2.5 million followers, drew a mixed response. Some praised it as “quite a smart answer,” while others accused him of unfairly targeting Harry. One user wrote, “Harry just can’t catch a break, can he,” while another said, “You lost me. Harry is a treasure.”
Carr is no stranger to public backlash, having faced previous criticism for offensive jokes and his involvement in a tax avoidance scheme. Despite this, his company R & I Futures Ltd reported $6.14 million in earnings for the year to September 2024, averaging nearly $128,000 per week.
A recent YouGov poll shows Prince William remains the most popular royal with a 74% approval rating, followed by Catherine at 71%. Harry’s rating has fallen to 28%, while Meghan Markle’s sits at 20%, only slightly higher than Prince Andrew’s. Disapproval levels remain high, with 62% holding an unfavorable view of Harry and 67% of Meghan.
