Comedian sued by her ex for stand-up routine

[Alberon]

I don't know if anyone has actually seen the stand-up show in question, but comedian Louise Beamont (but who still performs under her old married name of Reay) is being sued by her ex-husband over her 2017 stand-up show 'Hard Mode' which was, apparently, mostly about freedom of speech.



She and her husband split before the show was written and both sides have, naturally, very different views on the merits of the case.

Her story:

Ms Beamont has now set up a fundraising page to pay for her defence of the legal action, which she says could bankrupt her.

On the Gofundme page, the comedian wrote: "During that show, I referred to my husband a couple of times - perhaps two minutes' worth of reference in a 50-minute show.

"The main gist of those references was to tell the audience how sad I was that my marriage had broken down recently.

"He is seeking £30,000 damages, his legal costs (which I can only assume will be massive) and an injunction stopping me from publishing statements about him."

Ms Beamont, who stays in London, said she would not comment on the case beyond her statement on the fundraising page because of legal reasons.

She added: "As stand-up comedians, I believe it's the very definition of our job to talk about our lives and social issues.

"So this has become a free speech issue."

However, Mr Reay's solicitors denied the action was about preventing free speech and said that her material had suggested the couple's relationship was abusive.

His story:

In a statement, Taylor Hampton Solicitors Limited said: "We have from the outset made clear to Ms Beamont that our client is not in any way seeking to restrict or 'silence' her comedy or its content, except to the very limited extent that it involves the publication of unjustified false allegations and private information relating to him.

"For an extended period last summer, following their separation, Ms Beamont repeatedly performed a comedy show which identified our client verbally and in still and moving images, contained private information about him and his relationship with Ms Beamont, and made very serious and inflammatory allegations of wrongdoing against him.

"These allegations included the entirely false suggestion that our client's relationship with Ms Beamont was an abusive one."

The solicitor said their client was "harassed" by the performances and that the material had caused him "enormous distress".

Their statement added: "No right to freedom of expression or artistic licence can extend to the publication of such seriously defamatory and false allegations, or the unjustified misuse of our client's private information."

The truth: ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-43139065

Most comedians spin their routines at least partly out of their own lives, but how far can you go with material about former partners? Highly unlikely I know, but has anyone here seen the show in question?

[Utter Shit]

how far can you go with material about former partners?

Difficult question, but I reckon I'd get off a few stations before accusing them of crimes, unless I was absolutely sure I could prove it.

Based entirely, and therefore completely unfairly, on those two short summaries of their respective sides, it seems like she realises she's fucked up and is trying every trick in the book to keep herself out of trouble by trying to turn it into a free speech issue (it's not really a free speech issue if you're potentially slandering someone by accusing them of crimes) and attempting to mitigate her comments about him (it's not relevant that it's only two minutes out of a longer show, nor is it justified by the overall theme of the show), while he on the other hand seems rightfully upset but almost certainly on the take and looking to make as much money as possible out of it.

TBH if she's included photos and videos of him and used his real name in the show, she deserves everything she gets.

[CaledonianGonzo]

On the other hand, I'd imagine he's now very much experiencing the Streisand Effect.

[ieXush2i]

I'm surprised this hasn't happened before. Actually, it probably has but I don't know of any examples off the top of my head.

[Ferris]

It's difficult to make any kind of judgement without context. Will be interested to see how this pans out.

[Utter Shit]

On the other hand, I'd imagine he's now very much experiencing the Streisand Effect.

To an extent, but slightly different in that everyone now knows that the allegations are strongly disputed. That's probably preferable to a much smaller number of people knowing about the allegations but all of whom have reason to believe they are true.

FWIW (which is possibly very little), Comedian's Comedian Podcast man and all-round good egg Stuart Goldsmith spoke very briefly about it on his Facebook page, not getting into the details of the matter but giving Reay a character reference as someone who is fundamentally a nice person which, in the absence of any real information about what her or her ex are like, at least gives a basis for thinking her act may have been ill-advised rather than vindictive (if you even think she shouldn't have done it).

[Utter Shit]

I'm surprised this hasn't happened before. Actually, it probably has but I don't know of any examples off the top of my head.

As a counter-balance, John Robins and Sara Pascoe both did shows last year about their break-up - completely different situation as they seem to have parted amicably and as far as I'm aware neither of them are particularly nasty about the other (seeing Robins in a few weeks, if this is still going I'll update), but it's an interesting contrast.

[Rolf Lundgren]

Agree it's impossible to say without context. I'd say an occupational hazard of being in a relationship with a comedian is that they're going to talk about you at some point.

It'll be interesting to see if any retrospective action can be taken in which case Les Dawson's mother-in-law could sue for millions.

[Brundle-Fly]

Must be a real gamble to date a comedian knowing you could one day end up in their act. I knew a stand up comedy married couple who divorced and onstage she did fire off the odd withering one-liner in his direction but ultimately, they agreed to steer clear of washing their dirty laundry in public for the sake of the children.

[CaledonianGonzo]

I'm surprised this hasn't happened before. Actually, it probably has but I don't know of any examples off the top of my head.

There's some pretty strong sexual imagery re. Sara Pascoe in John Robins' prize-winning show. She's presumably aware of it by now, but you do wonder whether he flagged it up to her beforehand before he started discussing it onstage.

edit: Ah, already referenced by US.  Just saw it on Sunday

[Icehaven]

TBH if she's included photos and videos of him and used his real name in the show, she deserves everything she gets.

Given that loads of comedians manage to mention exes, sometimes extremely derogatorily, in their acts without naming names or using identifying features, she's either been pretty stupid or it's entirely intentional and either a publicity seeking set-up or a genuine wish to slag him off publically. 

[up_the_hampipe]

As a counter-balance, John Robins and Sara Pascoe both did shows last year about their break-up - completely different situation as they seem to have parted amicably and as far as I'm aware neither of them are particularly nasty about the other (seeing Robins in a few weeks, if this is still going I'll update), but it's an interesting contrast.

I saw Robbins last week. While he's not really nasty about her that much, the closing bit is quite heavy regarding how the relationship broke down, with some pretty gory details. In the context of the routine, it makes sense to include some specifics. There's a punchline to it all, at least.

Not to sound like Norm Macdonald, but I'm not one for this confessional comedy. Often it seems like they overshare in lieu of jokes.

[Small Man Big Horse]

I met her a couple of times when on the open mic circuit, and she did not like my material at all!

[Ferris]

I've just realized a friend of mine does stand up comedy and I could well be in her act. Probably not because I'm very unremarkable, but it is possible. Ooh heck, must go and see her show now.

[Clive Langham]

I'm surprised this hasn't happened before. Actually, it probably has but I don't know of any examples off the top of my head.

Woody Allen (during his stand-up years) got sued by his ex-wife Harlene Rosen for various "my ex-wife is so ugly..."-type gags.

Also this bloke

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8035312/Comedian-wins-legal-battle-to-joke-about-divorce.html

[Brundle-Fly]

Woody Allen (during his stand-up years) got sued by his ex-wife Harlene Rosen for various "my ex-wife is so ugly..."-type gags.

Also this bloke

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8035312/Comedian-wins-legal-battle-to-joke-about-divorce.html

The problem with all these 'gagging attempts is that it always draws attention to the thing the accuser is trying to place an injunction on.

[Famous Mortimer]

Lee and Herring mentioned the apparently real name of his ex girlfriend's mother, and called her a horrible old bitch, in the radio days.

[Brundle-Fly]

Lee and Herring mentioned the apparently real name of his ex girlfriend's mother, and called her a horrible old bitch, in the radio days.

Morris Mitchener enters thread with lawyer.

[McFlymo]

... John Robins and Sara Pascoe both did shows last year about their break-up...

I'm here because I just googled "lads lads lads cookedandbombd" which didn't get me anything and so I tried "sara pascoe cookdandbombd" and this thread showed up*. I watched The Darkness of Robins recently and thought it was excellent, I had no idea Sara Pascoe was the ex he was talking about!

So is Lads Lads Lads about Robins? I just noticed the whole show (from BBC) is on youtube and the opening 2 minutes seem promising. I always like to see if a thread exists before watching stand up shows, before starting my own, which inevitably vanish after 3 replies.

Anyway.. Carry on...
I'm "gagging" to read more on this topic. DESOLATION.

*great story, bro.

[bgmnts]

I don't think I'd like my personal problems being commercialised, I'd at least want to see some cash out of it.

[Bazooka]

As long as they said I had a huge cock, they can say anything.

[imitationleather]

Didn't this happen in Seinfeld when that woman makes a stand-up show about how he's the devil?

[Small Man Big Horse]

I'm here because I just googled "lads lads lads cookedandbombd" which didn't get me anything and so I tried "sara pascoe cookdandbombd" and this thread showed up*. I watched The Darkness of Robins recently and thought it was excellent, I had no idea Sara Pascoe was the ex he was talking about!

So is Lads Lads Lads about Robins? I just noticed the whole show (from BBC) is on youtube and the opening 2 minutes seem promising. I always like to see if a thread exists before watching stand up shows, before starting my own, which inevitably vanish after 3 replies.

Anyway.. Carry on...
I'm "gagging" to read more on this topic. DESOLATION.

*great story, bro.

It is, and Robins performed his own show about Pascoe the same year. I've not seen Lads Lads Lads though, but apparently a lot of it is about her life after the break up, and dating and things like that, rather than just a post mortem of their relationship.

[Jockice]

As long as they said I had a huge cock, they can say anything.

But comedy is meant to have some basis in reality.

[Alberon]

I saw James Acaster recently and he has a whole routine on an ex-girlfriend, but he goes out of his way - to the level of specifically pointing it out - not to say anything bad about her, but just how she left him and then started dating Rowen Atkinson. He gets in a couple of deliberately petty digs at Atkinson, but that's it.

As to Louise Reay who's standup caused this thread - her ex-husband dropped the case as part of an out of court settlement.

[worldsgreatestsinner]

Kiri Pritchard-McLean did a show about her ex. I haven't seen that show but apparently he's not painted in a good light. Then he, also a comedian, did a show in response about her.

http://www.edfestmag.com/general/kiri-pritchard-mclean-victim-complex-killa-filla/

https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2018/08/16/40886/james_meehan:_gaz

[imitationleather]

Are comedians just having relationships with each other to get material?

[Ferris]

Are comedians just having relationships with each other to get material?

It would explain why so many of them are starting relationships with James Acaster

There - I've made the cruel joke so we can say we've done it, but in a "have cake + eat it" moment I've crossed it out because we should be above this kind of thing.

[worldsgreatestsinner]

So can it be a selling point to any comedians I might be attracted to? "You'll definitely get an Edinburgh show out of me"?

[Sebastian Cobb]

It is, and Robins performed his own show about Pascoe the same year. I've not seen Lads Lads Lads though, but apparently a lot of it is about her life after the break up, and dating and things like that, rather than just a post mortem of their relationship.

I saw it, it was alright and yeah I think the most damning thing she said about him was 'he lied about liking dogs'.

I seem to remember at the time some people were giving her grief about it and Robins told them to behave.

The show was alright, I saw it at the fringe and I think it suffered from the usual 'big name comedian in big hall in pleasance' seeming a bit disappointing compared to the stuff in smaller rooms, not necessarily because of the content.