The club said his "brand of cruelty has no place in the kind of comedy we stand for"
Andrew Lawrence
Andrew Lawrence(Image: Midweek Visiter)
"Liverpool's funniest comedy club" has banned comedian Andrew Lawrence from its stages following a "vile attempt at a joke" about the crash which injured scores of people at Liverpool FC's Premier League parade.
The shocking incident occurred on Monday evening as hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the city to celebrate Liverpool's championship win. On X (formerly Twitter), Andrew Lawrence wrote: "To be fair, if I was in Liverpool, I'd drive through crowds of people to get the f**k out of there as well."
At least 79 people were injured when the car ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians on Water Street at around 6pm on Monday, May 26. A 53-year-old man from West Derby was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs.
The comment sparked outrage online and led to the cancellation of Lawrence's forthcoming gig at Caddies Southend in Essex. A spokesman for the venue said: "We do not condone or support the comment that has been made online, and we send everyone impacted by the tragic events in Liverpool our support and prayers."
Liverpool's own Hot Water Comedy Club has now announced the self-described "comedian on Youtube" "will never appear on a bill associated with us".
In a statement posted on the club's Facebook page, a Hot Water Comedy Club spokesman said: "We love this city—its people, its humour, its strength.
"We work with brilliant comedians from across the UK and beyond, and we believe in the power of comedy to challenge, uplift, and connect—not to target people in moments of real pain.
"Today, Andrew Lawrence made a vile attempt at a joke about a tragic incident here in Liverpool. That’s not comedy. It’s cruelty, plain and simple. Mocking a hurting community says far more about him than it ever could about this city.
"He is not welcome at any of our events or venues. His name will never appear on a bill associated with us. His brand of cruelty has no place in the kind of comedy we stand for.
"Promoters and comedians who continue to book or share a stage with him should think carefully about what that says to audiences. If you’re standing by him, you’re standing against everything this industry should represent. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone affected by what happened yesterday. Liverpool stands together."
The statement was largely welcomed by the club's clientele, though some criticised the decision. Christopher Edmondson said: "As Man United fan I stand firmly with the people of Liverpool, the fans and the club in deploying this abhorrent "comedic" comment.
"No fan of any club should be mowed down whilst celebrating their teams achievements. There were children there who were driven in to as well. I see nothing remotely funny in that. Plus many Liverpool fans helped people to get home safely after the tragic unfolding events.
"I have always found the people of Liverpool to be warm, kind, funny and genuinely caring. I hope everyone who is injured fully recovers and gets another chance to celebrate with their heroes."