Simon Brodkin has been blasted by furious viewers after making a 'sick and insensitive' Covid joke during the Royal Variety Performance.
The comedian was previously known for his high-profile stunts, including throwing money at FIFA president Sepp Blatter during a press conference and presenting Theresa May with a P45.
Opening his set at the prestigious event, Simon joked that he “broke into a lab in Wuhan in 2019,” referring to the supposed origins of the deadly coronavirus.
He told the crowd, “I'm the guy who did all the stunts and people always want to know if my stunts ever go wrong. Occasionally, I broke into this laboratory in Wuhan in late 2019. Sorry.'
While Simon's joke drew much laughter from the audience, many viewers watching at home took offense and slammed the jibe.
Simon Brodkin has been criticized by furious viewers after making 'sick and insensitive' Covid joke during Royal Variety Performance
One wrote: 'HOW dare you make a DISGUSTING joke about the pandemic? I'm going to do a full Ofcom on this. You should be ashamed of yourself.'
'The Wuhan joke was in very bad taste. Many loved ones have been lost, or remain in poor health – not funny,” a second added.
A third posted: 'Sorry but Covid jokes are in bad taste, we've lost a family member to it. I'm a nurse and I've been through it too, terrible times.'
'Very distasteful and insensitive joke about the Wuhan Labs. A lot of people have died because of Covid!” one user posted.
One shared: 'Did Simon Brodkin make a joke about Covid? The joke about him going to a lab, if so, that's not funny, that's sick!!”
Covid spread across the world in 2020, killing at least 232,000 people in Britain alone, so it was no surprise that some viewers took offense.
Simon's escapades have left Britain's biggest prankster in custody, in court and on the receiving end of disturbing death threats after he handed Theresa May her P45, hijacked Kanye West's Glastonbury performance, breached Donald Trump's security and embarrassed Simon Cowell and showered former FIFA president Sepp Blatter with banknotes.
He previously told Event Magazine: 'They deserve targets.
Opening his set at the prestigious event, Simon joked that he “broke into a laboratory in Wuhan in 2019,” referring to the alleged origins of the deadly coronavirus
While Simon's joke drew a lot of laughter from the audience, many viewers watching at home were offended and slammed the jibe.
“It's a sad day when you feel sorry for the fact that these seriously powerful people are being driven a little crazy. If they get angry, that's their problem.'
but Brodkin remains steadfast in his mission “to make people laugh and unnerve a few so-called untouchables at the same time.” Getting a laugh is the reason I do it'.
Elsewhere, host Bradley Walsh opened the Royal Variety Performance show with an awkward joke about being turned down for an MBE and OBE during the star-studded show.
The show's host, Mr Walsh, opened the event with a few jokes, including that he was not on the King's honors list.
Addressing Prince William, he said: 'I worked for your great-grandmother, your grandmother, your grandfather, your father, and now I work for your Mr. and Mrs.
'And I have to say, ask me if I have an MBE. No, I don't have one. Ask me if I have an OBE, no, I don't. Ask me if I have a CBE – no!'
He went on to say that these awards are probably “running out” because “they're all giving them to people who are rowboats” and “people on TV who bake cakes.”
Bradley said he 'entertained troops in the Falklands' and was 'glad to get out alive', while others were praised for their 'Victoria sponge cakes'.
He also shared an anecdote about meeting his two-year-old grandson, who he “promised” he would ask Prince William for a knighthood so the little boy could use his grandfather's title during show-and-tell in the nursery.
Earlier, Mr Walsh had greeted the 'Royal Highnesses', with the camera switching to William and Kate as they smiled.
He pretended to stumble over the word “Your Highnesses” several times. “Doesn't it sound good, Your Royal Highnesses? There are too many 'reviews', right? Your Royal Highness… your Royal Highnesses?'' he said.
“It should be like cactus, cacti, cacti. Your Royal Highness, Highness and Highni. That is it. I've got it. Your royal highni.” Meanwhile, we saw Kate and William laughing at the awkward joke.
People on X, formerly known as Twitter, labeled his opening sketch “cringe” and “boring.”
One user said: 'Bradley Walsh was completely embarrassing at first, not funny at all, begging for a cbe obe etc.'
Another said: 'Bradley Walsh is just not funny! Cringe-worthy start to show. Think he just moved to last place on the list #RoyalVariety.”
This idea was echoed by another user who commented: 'Agreed, normally I love Bradley Walsh, but begging for gong is embarrassing.'
“Bradley Walsh. Stand-up comedy is not for you,” a third pointed out.
One user also wrote: 'What a boring Bradley Walsh is.'