Even a Canadian government Minister gets involved

Canadian comic Russell Peters has been criticised for jokes he made at the nation's biggest music awards.

Heritage minister Melanie Joly was among those slamming the comedian, after he introduced her to the stage with a comment about her looking 'hot'.

Peters was also chastised for opening the Junos ceremony by saying: 'Look at all the young girls. This is a felony waiting to happen.'

Activist Kira-Lynn Ferderber wrote: 'This kind of comment from the stage normalises rape culture, and reduces young women to a crime that can be committed against them. Imagine how it feels to be a teenage girl in a huge audience of adult men, while one of the men observes into the microphone that your assault is just "waiting to happen".'

He also introduced singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan by saying: 'That reminds me - I just left my dog in the car.'

Canadian newspapers reported that Joly criticised Peters' comments as inappropriate, adding that such humour should not have a place at the Junos.

'We need to make sure that all our role models are supporting the importance of gender parity,' she said. 'I really hope that he takes that into consideration and understands ... the importance of what he said.'

Here is his opening monologue:

Published: 4 Apr 2017