Why did the Edinburgh Fringe cancel Jerry Sadowitz?

I suppose it was inevitable that cancel culture would eventually catch up with Jerry Sadowitz. We often talk about offensive or controversial comedy these days. Often regarding jokes and acts that aren’t remotely offensive or controversial to anyone other than a handful of bilious idiots.

But Sadowitz is the real deal. This US-born Glaswegian comic-cum-magician is the most genuinely offensive act you will ever see. His onstage persona is a fireball of hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia and depravity, served up with improbably brilliant magic tricks. He makes Frankie Boyle look about as edgy as Susan Boyle. And he is utterly brilliant – hilarious and almost poetic in how he vocalises hate-fuelled rage. Which is why, even as comedy has become ever more bourgeois and uptight, he has been able to continue doing his thing relatively unscathed. Until now.

On Saturday, Sadowitz announced