British comedian shares messages from female comics group chat warning of ‘creeps’

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Comedian Kate Smurthwaite has shared a selection of text messages exchanged with fellow female comics in a group chat discussing their ‘creepy’ male peers.

The 50-year-old comedian and activist appeared on Newsnight in the wake of the conviction of Russell Brand for rape and the publication of grooming allegations against David Walliams.

Speaking with Victoria Derbyshire in the BBC studio, Smurthwaite explained it is par for the course for her and fellow female comedians to ask one another about their experiences of working with certain stand-ups.

She shared a selection of messages from a WhatsApp group, with the names of the comedians they were discussing blurred out.

Among the messages, one comedian asked: ‘Has anyone gigged for — or — with any bad experiences?’ to which another member of the group replied: ‘Beyond rude shambolic and mainly audience-free.’

Another member of the group replied: ‘He’s creepy as f***’, which received two thumbs-up reactions on WhatsApp, while a second individual agreed, adding: ‘Sooooo creepy, avoid him if you can!!’

In one message Smurthwaite shared, a member of the group claimed a comedian has started booking gigs under another name.

To this, one woman replied: ‘Shared a car with him a couple months ago. Awful. Have warned promoters about him since but I have seen he still gets booked.’

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