Betnér on transsexual rapist

At the Sir Richard Steele in London

More Magnus Betner videos

An established Swedish comedian, who started in 1997, Magnus Betner is now attempting to work his way up the British circuit.

He has recorded three comedy specials on Swedish TV, as well as his own series In Your Face, where he performed stand-up in places such as a church and a mosque. He has also released four stand-up DVDs.

Magnus Betner: Cum All Ye Faithful
Live Review

At first glance Swedish comic Magnus Betner appears to be a bit of a misanthrope. But like infamous American comedic grump Doug Stanhope, although Betner seem to have an issue with the world in actual fact most of what he says is from a pretty liberal perspective. An advocate of freedom of speech and civil liberties for all, you can’t help but feel that those who find his shtick controversial haven’t really been listening.

There’s no doubt he has strong views on most topics and is unafraid to issue forth with them with unerring frankness; there’s no pussy-footing around or sugar coating here. His use of English (his second language of course) is forthright to say the least - god is described simply as ‘an asshole’. It’s provocative and he doesn’t seem to care if he offends but then if you’re taking on board a lot of what he says he talks a whole lot of sense.

There’s some logical atheist theorising about god or rather the lack of ‘Him’. He muses on the fact that you can’t smack kids yet it’s perfectly acceptable to circumcise your son before he’s old enough to make his own decision. He’s a feminist too, as he notes himself, discussing the nature versus nurture debate when bringing up girls and boys. In regard to sexuality it makes no sense to him how men can find anal sex with a man an abhorrent idea yet spend time and energy pursuing it with woman. Then, rather than uncharitably lampooning fat people as many comedians do , he celebrates them as fellow hedonists for refusing to put a cap on their enjoyment of food, advocating the view that you should have as much fun as you can in this short life.

Perhaps the only time he really touches on a topic that seems extreme is his tongue-in-cheek suggestion that ‘abortion’ is the answer for the more annoying under fives but then these are just gags after all. Plus he has five-year-old daughter, whom he declares he loves to pieces to soften the material.

Tonight Betner seemed to take a little while to get started, possibly as it’s late in the Fringe and he’s spent much of it pickling himself. As he points out in Sweden being drunk everyday for 15 years is considered alcoholism, in Scotland it’s just liking a drink. As well as a drink problem (or more than likely because it) he also touches on his depression, further flashing his sensitive side.

Overall, it’s easy to see why he’s equally a popular and controversial figure back in his native Sweden, and it can’t be long before he begins to break over here.

Last Friday night at The Glee Birmingham saw an audience supremely warmed up by compare Kevin McCarthy turned flat by Magnus Betner. If I had wanted to hear someone's opinion on the war in Afghanistan then I may have been better suited to a debating chamber than a comedy club. I'm not easily offended by anything, but gags about how every woman should have a abortion left me a little flat and feeling sorry for any woman in the audience who had to go through the trauma. (is it funny to laugh about 5 month old abortions? maybe not) Magnus commented on us not laughing and our blank faces - I think that told more about his act that the attitude of the audience. Very poor supposed comedy delivered very poorly.

Lee Wickstead, November 2010

Review @ Pipeline, 4th November 2009. I imagine a reviewer has to consider all kinds of incidental but relevant factors, such as tone of voice, body language, audience reaction, audience composition, context, background, which might distract from actual content. Still I feel disappointed with the comment in the review "his take on Michael Jackson can be summed up as ‘of course he’s a paedophile – he had a funfair in his garden’. " Magnus had stated as fact quite early on that Michael Jackson was a paedophile. The joke was that Jackson lacked commitment, compared with someone like Fritzl. Magnus invited the audience to adopt a paedophile's point of view. I think the joke was more nuanced and potentially dangerous than this review gives him credit for. Although Magnus covers nominally the same subjects as other comedians, I believe he does his own research and expresses his own opinions, relatively free from the group-think that may sometimes afflict established performers in the UK. The review is spot-on about Magnus's oratorical skills. He is easy to listen to, and he performs with considerable charm. He says naughty things, but backs them up with a winning smile. Although Magnus often performs longer sets in Sweden, I'm not sure he's done 45 minutes in English before. As he gets more experience, I think he'll become one of the most exciting performers in the UK.

Milo Salinas, November 2009

I liked the review Mr B, as its good to know that there are reporters out there that no how to crate the fuel needed to wind up a genius and make him strive to shut you up! I have never ever read a good review yet on Magnus Betner and I hope to my fictitious god that I never will! Magnus is Magnus. The very best and still in his UK infancy. I wasn't at the show that night, as I knew it would have been full of cheapskate Swedes wanting to see him for £5. I take advantage and see him in real clubs where he belongs. Make no mistake, once Magnus knows what the British public wants, he will deliver and blow you all away!

Frank Britton, November 2009

Well I didn't go to this show that Chortle reported on so I can't agree or disagree with the comments made. However I have been to most of the other shows and being an American living and working in the UK, I have to say that this Swede is an absolute an utter breath of fresh air to the stagnant British comedy scene that somehow seem to have forgotten or got scarred that sometimes it is ok to break the rules. This Swedish comedian to magnificent and so damn innovative and still in his infancy in English. Many keep comparing him to Bill Hicks, fuck that, Lenny Bruce people as Magnus Betner is not a comedian, he is the reincarnation of Lenny Bruce, I am sure of it.

Jane Wilson, November 2009