Comedian accuses Jewish groups of trying to 'stifle dissent and satire'

Reginald D Hunter has been told he will have to wait until November to find out whether a prosecution against him for making allegedly antisemitic posts will be allowed to proceed.

The comedian appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today, where he was bailed.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism is bringing a private prosecution against the 56-year-old under the Communications Act  2003 over three allegedly offensive messages sent to a pro-Israel campaigner via X last year.

It came after Hunter clashed with antisemitism campaigners Mark Lewis and Mandy Blumenthal at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. The pair heckled an anti-Israel joke, with the response reportedly turning the gig ugly, with the couple telling the media how the audience hounded them out.

Hunter later said he ‘regretted’ what happened at the ‘unfortunate incident’, but stopped short of an apology. He added: ‘I am staunchly anti-war and anti-bullying. I regret any stress caused to the audience and venue staff members.’

He was cleared of committing any hate crime following an investigation by Police Scotland. 

The comic has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £50,000 for his legal fees.

Hunter wrote that the Campaign Against Antisemitism was ‘dragging me to court for jokes online’, forcing him to fight a private prosecution ‘for my comedy’.

Hunter said he was targeted online with Hate Mail and death threats following the Edinburgh Fringe incident, with one message to his agent demanding: ‘Drop the n**** by Christmas or you will be dead.’

He hit back with ‘satirical and provocative replies' - in his words - that accused the CAA of spreading misinformation. His lawyer today said he was ‘in distress’ when he responded online.

Hunter said the case was ‘a stark example of private prosecution powers being used for political purposes and to stifle dissent and satire’.

According to earlier press reports, it was claimed that Mr Hunter had sent a ‘grossly offensive’ computer-generated sexual image to pro-Israeli campaigner Heidi Bachram. 

He is said to have followed that with a message saying: ‘THIS is why I HATE these people and am committed to their destruction not because JEW hatred Not even because they are European Nazis pretending to be JEWS Because of all the lying. Mama HATED liars and bequeathed that hatred to ALL of her children.’

One day later, he is said to have sent another message, reading: ‘Hey sugar. I don't hate you for being an agent of evil. Not new Not even uncommon. You being a liar a persistent liar KNOWING the truth, is why I will see you and your kind ended, even if it costs me EVERYTHING. You are not even a JEW. Run tell that.’

Ms Bachram's husband's relatives were murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 atrocity,

The timeline for the case is that the prosecution must  disclose all material relevant to its case by August 14. Hunter’s team must outline their arguments for why the case should be quashed by September 21, with the prosecutors responding by October 20. All that will be considered at the full-day public hearing scheduled for November 14.

His crowdfunder has raised more than £20,000 so far. 

Published: 7 Jul 2025