Shocking footage captured Australian comedian and TV presenter Jim Jefferies making jokes about US politicians including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, prompting angry reactions from an onlooker.
Jefferies, who presents Channel 7’s 1% Club game show, was on the first date of his Give ‘Em What They Want tour in Perth when things took a nasty turn.
An angry rioter had to be removed from the HBF stadium by security on Wednesday evening after he walked threateningly towards the comedian on stage.
Radio host Robbie Von Klitzing, who filmed the incident on his phone and posted it on social media, said it was funny at first but quickly went downhill.
“Jim Jefferies made some jokes about Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he said.
“And for some reason this was the moment where someone in the audience really objected. And all of a sudden we heard someone in the background yelling ‘F’s’ and ‘C’s’. And when we looked around, you could see him stand up, point and go absolutely crazy!”
Jefferies, 47, then verbally responded to the harasser, only further escalating the situation.
The veteran comedian then decided that the best way to calm things down was to give the agitated man some time to vent his anger.
Shocking footage captured the moment Australian comedian and TV presenter Jim Jefferies made jokes about American politicians including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, prompting an angry reaction from one onlooker
An angry harasser (pictured) had to be removed from the HBF stadium by security on Wednesday night after he walked onto the stage while shouting at the comedian
But the man chose that moment to suddenly remain silent.
“The guy had 10 seconds, didn’t say anything and then Jim started going at it again,” Von Klitzing said.
“And that guy in the audience walked up to the stage… If he had the chance, he would attack Jim Jefferies.”
Before the man got close enough to make physical contact, security intervened and he was removed from the location.
“He just rammed it and the guy was dragged out by security. It was unbelievable!” said Von Klitzing.
As the man was being led to the door, Jefferies attempted to attack him again, saying, “If you can afford to have 10 bodyguards, you can fucking fight me. I got more protection than Trump’s fucking son!”
It’s not the first time the audience has tried to hit Jefferies for doing what they paid him to do: tell jokes.
The first two people to do this succeeded. One of them was caught on camera in 2007 at The Comedy Store in Manchester, England.
“If you Google ‘Jim Jefferies hit me’ you’ll see what people do to me when they boo me,” he told Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington on Sunrise in May.
“I got hit twice on stage, but only once was caught on film. I’m not the best (at dealing with difficult people),” he said.
There was a lot of online support for Jefferies after his jokes were again objected to.
Jefferies has been beaten up twice by troublemakers, one of which was caught on camera at The Comedy Store in Manchester in 2007 in now infamous footage (see photo)
“Paying hundreds of dollars to attend a comedy show and then being offended by a joke! More money than sense,” one person wrote.
“Why are Trump supporters so violent,” asked another. “Is it an education issue because Trump says he loves the uneducated. Or is it an emotional issue?
“Anyway, that idiot paid a lot of money to see a show and then that genius got thrown out.”
Jefferies’ tour continues to Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Townsville.