Comedian Jimmy Carr has stirred fresh controversy after comparing Prince Harry to rapper Kanye West during a recent stand-up performance. Carr’s remarks, which referenced past incidents involving Nazi attire, have sparked mixed reactions from the public.
During his show, Carr responded to an audience question about his preference between Prince William and Prince Harry by saying, “The royal family — well, if you can imagine, they’re like our Kardashians. Prince Harry is very much our Kanye. He occasionally dresses as a Nazi — and he f***ed up.”
The comparison alludes to Prince Harry’s widely criticized 2005 incident when he attended a fancy dress party wearing a Nazi uniform, a moment that caused significant backlash and required a public apology from the then 20-year-old royal.
Similarly, Kanye West has faced severe criticism for antisemitic remarks made publicly, although he later claimed to have “renounced” such views.
Carr’s joke was posted on his official Instagram account, which has over 2.5 million followers. The clip quickly drew a divided response online. Some praised Carr’s sharp wit, calling it “quite a smart answer,” while others felt the comedian was unfairly targeting Prince Harry. Comments ranged from sympathy for Harry, saying “Harry just can’t catch a break,” to supporters defending the prince with remarks like, “You lost me. Harry is a treasure.”
Jimmy Carr is no stranger to public backlash. He has faced criticism over offensive material and was implicated in a tax avoidance controversy. Despite this, his company, R & I Futures Ltd, reported earnings of $6.14 million in the year leading to September 2024, averaging around $128,000 per week.
Meanwhile, public opinion data from a recent YouGov poll shows Prince William and Princess Kate leading the Royal Family’s popularity rankings with 74% and 71% favourability respectively. Prince Harry’s approval rating dropped to 28%, with Meghan Markle’s rating slightly lower at 20%, figures close to those of Prince Andrew. Negative opinions were notably high, with 62% viewing Prince Harry unfavourably and 67% holding a negative view of Meghan.
