Comedian Anton Steniuk apologized for his joke about Muslims
Comedian Anton Steniuk apologized for his joke about Muslims
antonstenyuk/Instagram
Stand-up comedian Anton Steniuk publicly apologized for his joke about Muslims. He also promised to remove it from the concert recording.
This is stated in Steniuk’s address, published on Instagram.
“I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my words during my solo performance that was posted on YouTube.
One of my jokes was inappropriate and unacceptable. And I deeply regret that I may have offended many people, particularly members of the Muslim community. It was not my intention to humiliate or offend anyone on religious grounds.” – said the comedian.
Anton Steniuk noted that he had already deleted the video with the joke from social networks. He also promised to cut this part from the full version of the concert.
“I am aware of the responsibility for my words and promise to be more sensitive in my work.” – said the stand-up artist.
Scandal flared up around the video that was published at the end of May on the channel of the “Underground Standup” project, whose resident is Anton Steniuk.
“This war is just nonsense. I don’t know how it happened that some Orthodox are killing other Orthodox, when there are still so many Muslims in the world.
I am not saying that Muslims should be killed. I am an adequate person and I understand that now is not the time. Moreover, the Jews are already engaged in this.” – says the comedian in the video.
These words were criticized by the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, who called the speech an “attack” against Muslims.
The chief mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma” Murat Suleymanov was also not left out. He characterized the comedian’s words as “public humiliation of all Muslims of Ukraine.”
The Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reacted to the incident in his comments. The ombudsman reported that he had turned to the National Police of Ukraine with a request to provide legal qualifications for the comedian’s performance.
“I sent a letter to the National Police of Ukraine regarding the investigation and opening of criminal proceedings under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely inciting religious enmity and hatred, insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs.” Lubinets noted.
“UP. Life” asked the police for a comment and is waiting for a response.
