Comedian Reginald D Hunter has appeared in court over alleged anti-semitic social media posts sent to a Brighton campaigner.
The 56-year-old US stand-up is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three different occasions – on Saturday 24 August, Tuesday 10 September and Wednesday 11 September last year – to Heidi Bachram on X, formerly Twitter.
He spoke to confirm his personal details when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, in London, on Monday (7 July) for the private prosecution which is being brought by the Campaign Against Anti-semitism (CAA) charity.
Hunter was pictured outside court with former Brighton Independent editor Greg Hadfield who is facing similar charges.
It is alleged that Hunter sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was “grossly offensive”.
No indication of plea was given and Hunter was bailed to return for a hearing at the same court on Friday 14 November.
Deputy district judge Louise Balmain told him: “There is going to be an initial legal argument as to whether the case should proceed and that will take place on November 14.”
The judge told Hunter to attend that hearing as he will learn if the case goes ahead and whether he will have to enter a plea.
Hunter, whose address was given as care of Kalber Struckley solicitors, was released on unconditional bail.
Hunter regularly tours the UK and has appeared on comedy panel shows Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.
In an Instagram post published last week, Hunter said that the CAA is “dragging me to court for jokes online”.
Hunter also declared he is “fighting a private prosecution for my comedy” in a crowdfunding appeal launched to help cover legal fees.
A total of £19,836 towards a £50,000 target had been pledged by the time he made his first appearance in court on Monday.
The crowdfunder, aimed at raising money towards specialist counsel and any appeals procedures and court fees, states: “Born in Georgia in 1969, Reginald has been a force in UK comedy since 1992.
“Known for his biting social commentary, he has appeared on Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats and was Perrier-nominated at Edinburgh Festival.
“Reginald challenges audiences on racism, politics and religion. He is staunchly anti-war and has publicly criticised Israel in the past.”
The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to “expose and counter anti-semitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law”.
Stephen Silverman, the group’s director of investigations and enforcement, previously said: “This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing and there will be more to say on the case in due course.”
Another piece of filth whose career is hopefully over. Just as well as he was never funny. Hopefully he’ll find a more suitable job cleaning toilets in jail, followed by being thrown out of the UK.
It was the vexatious claim against him that got thrown out. I do hope the Charity Commission is taking notes
No, actually innocent people should not be in jail. Speaking against Israeli genocide is not antisemitism.
-perhaps inform yourself by researching the many groups of Jewish people against Zionism including (but not limited to) Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), IfNotNow, Neturei Karta Satmar Hasidim.