BBC comedian Dawn French has issued a statement after sparking backlash with a video about Gaza.

Dawn French has issued an apology after sparking backlash online (Image: Getty)

British comedian Dawn French has issued an apology after sparking backlash with a social media video about the conflict in Gaza and Israel. The BBC star, 67, shared a video on X where she used a baby-like voice to critique the justifcations used by people who support Israel’s campaign in Gaza. In the video, she said: “Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no,” as she used a baby voice to mock pro-Israel arguments. She continued: “Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us… and we want that land… and we have history… Those people aren’t really even people, are they?” After each statement French is heard returning to her natural voice as she emphatically says “No”.

The video has sparked backlash online after getting 4.7million views, with the actress being accused of mocking victims. French has now issued a lengthy apology on Instagram, penning: ” clumsily used a mocking tone,’ she wrote. ‘My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal, unthinkable, unforgivable savage [attack].”

She insisted that she had intended to mock and point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on ALL sides of this attricious [sic] war,” but realised it had come across as one-sided.

French continued: “I’m particularly sorry that my disgust at Hamas didn’t figure. It appeared one-sided and that is wrong.

“The images of starving and wounded children have haunted me day and night,’ she wrote. ‘History has taught us never to stand by and allow this kind of inhumane violence to be wrought on anyone, especially innocent children.’

“I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but clearly I have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video.”

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is Jewish, shared her disappointment at Dawn’s post as she said: “This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears to be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape, sexual violence, burning alive child, mutilation and the taking of civilian hostages.

“Why would Dawn seem to deny that which has affected so many of us personally in the most painful way possible. I can mourn the horrors of the war in Gaza whilst also remembering the horrors of what started it. Is this how most of our industry feels now – Oct 7 was a ‘little thing’? NO!”

Dawn replied: “I do not say ‘a little thing’. In NO WAY do I support the atrocities of Oct 7th. Of course not. Appalling. Horrific. But starving innocent children is not the answer. NO is the answer to ALL of it Tracy.”