08 March 2024 , 10:35
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A deaf woman says she left a Jimmy Carr show feeling 'absolutely insulted' after the comedian mocked her as a punchline in his jokes.
Carly Ahlen, from Dartford, Kent, claims the 8 Out of 10 Cats host made 'vile' jokes about people who share her disability when he performed at her local Orchard West Theatre.
The 44-year-old, who was left profoundly deaf following a stint in the army, says she is disappointed that the stand-up used his platform to 'put down those who have a tough life'.
Ms Ahlen says Mr Carr - who is well-known for his controversial quips and 'roasting' audience members - noticed her in the front row with a beret on and asked why she was wearing it.
She explained: "I used my right hand to lift my beret, exposing my hearing aid. I hoped he was at least a decent guy and would move on, knowing I was deaf. It didn't work. It had the opposite effect as I was like a sitting deaf duck now," she said.
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Towards the end of the show, Ms Ahlen was looking at her iPhone as she was using a transcribing app to keep track of what Mr Carr was saying.
He addressed her again, referencing her beret and her phone and asking if she was going to 'call for backup from the French Resistance.'
"Then, he was talking about how you can say anything about deaf people because they can't hear you!" Ms Ahlen said. "I was shocked this isn't comedy!"
The wildlife rescue specialist, who runs Dartford-based Gabo Wildlife, says she was left lost for words following the exchange.
"Comedy is an amazing tool for progressive change, yet Jimmy decided to use his platform to put down those who have a tough life," she said. "There's a joke and then there's absolutely insulting. It's vile to the deaf community. It's just not acceptable. He doesn't need to do that he's rich enough."
"I've spent far too long feeling miserable and ashamed of my hearing loss because of the stigma attached to it," she added.
Hi Kent, a charity which helps people in the county with hearing loss, said it was sorry to hear of Ms Ahlen's experience.
A spokesperson said: "We at Hi Kent do all we can to promote inclusion and understanding of the challenges faced by those living with hearing loss and do not condone any lack of understanding for people with this 'invisible' disability."
Ms Ahlen did not complain to West Orchard Theatre but has written to the British Deaf Association raising her concerns.
Jimmy Carr is known for his controversial jokes with his 2023 Netflix special drawing complaints from some viewers (Getty Images)It is not the first time Mr Carr has faced controversy for his style of comedy.
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Videos on the comedian's YouTube account titled things like '10 Times Jimmy Absolutely and Brutally Destroyed His Audience' have been watched millions of times.
But he is sometimes accused of overstepping the mark, such as in 2022 when he made comments about the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller community for a Netflix special.
The then-culture secretary Nadine Dorries called that particular joke 'abhorrent'.
He has also previously joked about deafness. During a show in 2018, he told the audience he had received a number of complaints for saying: "Deafness is getting to be quite a problem for me... and I never thought I'd hear myself say that."
The gig in Dartford which Ms Ahlen attended was a work-in-progress show in which Mr Carr was testing out new material.
His upcoming tour, titled Laughs Funny, kicks off in May with two performances at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall.
The stand-up will then visit towns all over the country.
Being profoundly deaf means you cannot hear sounds below 95 decibels. The typical volume of speech is around 60 decibels.
The Orchard Theatre declined to comment on the matter and Jimmy Carr's management team has been contacted for comment.