There's nothing that makes you question your own values and consider being open-minded than being challenged with something you might find offensive. But for him to say it wasn't about a Muslim e on! The guy's name was Ahmed and what other religion offers you virgins in paradise?īut besides that, it was FUNNY and not offensive, imho.ĪND he made fun of Jews, Catholics, Bill Clinton, the Washinton Monument, the Verizon guy, and Prius cars too! Should we all be offended then if we happen to be one of those things? Or the terrorist parts because well, as we all know, not all Muslims are terrorists. I'm not Muslim, but I can't imagine if I were I would be offended by the virgin part. "If it would help things," he added, "I'm considering renaming Achmed, 'Bill.'" In a jibe at the South African complainant's name, he said: "I thought Khan was awesome in Star Trek." "I truly believe that laughter can heal many wounds," Dunham said. The comedian said moves like this stymie the freedom to poke fun at any group.
#Achmed the dead terrorist religion free#
As a standup comic, it is my job to make the majority of people laugh, and I believe that comedy is the last true form of free speech."ĭunham - whose other puppets include Peanut, Bubba J and Walter, a grumpy retiree - said he has no plans to retire the controversial act.
"I've skewered whites, blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the elderly, and my wife. In a statement to, he said: "Achmed makes it clear in my act that he is not Muslim, so I'm sorry the gentleman Khan didn't see my entire show. Muslims make up 2 percent of South Africa's population.īut Dunham begs to differ. "To associate this divine inspiration to a terrorist is offensive to the people who believe in ," the authority ruled. (more of the same- LS)Īnd the ASA agreed. The commercial depicts Dunham holding his skeletal puppet, Achmed, dressed with a white cloth around his head and demanding that the audience keep quiet, uttering, "Silence! I will kill you!"ĪSA officials said a South African man, Moegamat Khan, had filed a complaint that the commercial was offensive to the Islamic religion and created an impression that all Muslims were terrorists. According to, South Africa's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that a GloMobile ringtone commercial featuring Dunham and his puppet was offensive to Muslims. A 10-minute clip of the comedian's routine that was posted on YouTube has been viewed more than 66 million times since April.īut the government of South Africa doesn't think it's funny.
#Achmed the dead terrorist religion tv#
The ringtone was taken from a puppet routine performed by Dunham, a native Texan, in a TV special on Comedy Central.
Funnyman ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is fuming after a ringtone advertisement based on his popular comedy skit, "Achmed the Dead Terrorist," was scrubbed from South African TV because it mocks Islam.