Two Jewish comedians have claimed that their shows have been canceled Edinburgh fringe Because of this year “Safety concerns” from employees at the site.
Rachel Kregar was designed to perform the ‘ultimat Jewish Maa’ in whistalbinkies during the annual art festival, while Philip Simon was due to hosting the ‘Jewish-O-Rama’ of Jewish comedic talents at the same place. However, both acts claimed that they were told that their gigs would be canceled as the bar employees at the venue feared being “unsafe”.
The organizers of the fringe stated that they were working to find alternative places for artists, but politicians and comedians have expressed concern about the move at one time. Antisemitism is increasing in Britain,
Ms. Kregar told Times Radio on Sunday, “It would have been the third year in a line of that specific show at that place.” “When it comes to security, he said that he realized additional security precautions that many Jewish artists are subject to this time, as rising antisimitism felt him irony, more insecure.”
“Precautions include [that] When the additional police allotted for the festival were allotted to their beat patrol, they passed till the beginning and end where the Jews showing, so nothing was aggressive to the site, and they needed advice in the event of the phone having some contact numbers or to report any kind of antisemtic event.
“He also quoted that he had enhanced frescoes in his place because we were threatened – we are not sure, we certainly did not build the graffiti people – but they claim that they had to show the toilet doors again where most of the grains were happening regularly.
“The shows are not political, we are not political artists.”
Ms. Kregar said that last year, the site went to a large length to say that the site was a safe place and they would ensure that the comedian always had a positive experience.
While initially there were plans to swap places so that they could still perform, it was too late to make these arrangements, Wire Informed His shows no longer appear on the Edinburgh fringe website.
Mr. Simon – Who said that another site in the city also canceled one of its shows – claimed that they were “being canceled only to be Jews”.
He said, “Anyone who knows me will know that I have never supported the hostages and have never supported anything other than finding a way for peace,” he said. “It is sad to think that these ideas can struggle with anyone who wants to see a permanent peace in Gaza and Israel.
“It is possible as a Jewish person living in the UK, and is rapidly common, to make a love for Israel without supporting the government’s functions.”
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharan Haskel criticized the reported cancellation.
“This is a shocking decision and should be reversed,” he told The Independent. “This is more proof of the normalization of antismitism in the UK.”
And Shadow Scotland Secretary Andrew Bovi told Times Radio: “This is a shocking situation. Everyone should be welcomed in this country, whether they have come from where they came from, whether they came from, to perform elsewhere at the Edinburgh Festival or for that case.
“The facts in the United Kingdom in 2025 are very sick from the situation of affairs in this country and shows that we were warning a few years ago in the context of the rise of antismitism in this country and there is something that we were pressing at the highest level.
Independent Edinburgh has reached fringe, free fringe and whistlebinks for comments.
PBH Free Fringe CEO Luke Meredith told Cortal: “The decision not to host two shows was taken by the venue alone. As far as we understand, it was a staff decision based on last year’s experience when he experienced a significant growth in both ‘Free Palestine’ and Zioneous frescoes, as well as police notice that he felt unprotected.
“The case was first brought to our attention in late May, after the print deadline for the brochure, I thought at that time, the police were only taking precautions and no real threats, and that it could be harmful to move them after being advertised in prints, but it was understood that we were understood that we were to pursue the show.
“I was made aware of this a week ago and we have been working with the show since then and working to find them a suitable replacement slot, including contacting other organizations. Nothing is possible so far, but we welcome any offer of help. If someone has a place in Central Edinburgh, we will be happy to run it.”
This is not the first time that fringe has faced questions on the alleged antisementism. Last year, American standup comedian resinled de Hunter found himself in the center of an antismitism line in the fringe when two Israel Comparing Israel, people were bouncing on its gigs after objecting to a joke compared to an abusive spouse.