Barry Humphries funeral: comedian rejects Victoria state funeral on his death bed
The late Barry Humphries ‘gave firm instructions’ to turn down a state funeral in Victoria as sources reveal he was still bitter about being ‘cancelled’ by the Melbourne Comedy Festival
Barry Humphries’ son, Oscar, insisted his family was not “snubbing” the state of Victoria when they turned down the offer of a state funeral in Melbourne.
However, sources close to the comedian, 89, who was born in Kew, said he gave ‘strong instructions’ on his deathbed to turn down a Victorian state funeral if it was offered.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, the satirist was still bitter about the Melbourne Comedy Festival ‘cancelling’ him for ‘anti-trans’ comments.
The annual festival, which Humphries co-founded in 1987, receives approximately $7 million in funding through the state-funded Creative Victoria organization.
The media personality was still dissatisfied with the state’s lack of intervention when he fell out with event organizers in 2019, leading them to drop him from the festival entirely.
Barry Humphries’ son (right), Oscar (left), insisted his family did not “snub” Victoria when they turned down the offer of a state funeral in Melbourne. However, sources close to the comedian, 89, said otherwise
A furious email from Humphries after falling out with the organizers of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival recently emerged as the event was flooded with more comments following his death.
Best known for his roles as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, the Aussie icon passed away on April 22 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney surrounded by his family following complications from hip surgery.
Humphries helped launch the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987 and at one point had an award named after him before falling out with organizers in 2019 over ‘anti-trans’ comments.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, the satirist was still bitter about the Melbourne Comedy Festival ‘cancelling’ him over ‘anti-trans’ comments. Pictured is Prime Minister of Victoria Daniel Andrews
A furious email from Humphries after falling out with the organizers of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival recently emerged as the event was flooded with more comments following his death
The organizers dropped a major award in his honor following his comments he made about transgender people a year earlier, including that it was a “fashion” craze and that sex reassignment surgery was “self-mutilation.”
As the festival’s organizers attempted to ‘undo’ the beloved entertainer and announced plans for a ‘fitting tribute’, a scathing email came from Humphries about his banishment from the festival that he helped turn into one of the world’s biggest comedy events.
The email was sent in October 2020 after Humphries signed a petition in support of Harry Potter author JK Rowling after she was threatened with death and rape by trans activists.
Humphries wrote a letter to petition organizer Graham Lineham, describing the backlash against Rowling as a “cowardly display.”
Humphries, who is best known for his role as Dame Edna Everage, was dissatisfied with the state government’s lack of intervention when he fell out with event organizers in 2019, leading them to drop him from the festival entirely.