Jo Brand, 61, was pictured looking in high spirits as she made her way to Henley-on-Thames this afternoon. Having joked she would prefer to see politicians subjected to “battery acid” being thrown on them as opposed to milkshake, in the wake of Nigel Farage, 55, being splashed with the drink whilst campaigning last month, she declined to apologise for her remarks, according to The Sun. Speaking outside her home, she told the publication: “I think if they [critics] want an answer, there have been plenty of explanations by the BBC and Victoria Coren.
“I’m not employed by the BBC, so how can they sack me?” she added.
Brand reportedly refused to apologise for the remarks once again when she arrived in Henley-on-Thames to perform at the Henley Literature Festival.
She insisted: “Freedom of speech is extremely important in comedy.”
The comedian was snapped smiling as she made her way to the festival, dressed in all black and sheltering from the rain under an umbrella.
The controversy surrounding Jo Brand’s “battery acid” joke stemmed from her appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Heresy, which is hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell, 46.
Speaking about the state of UK politics, she said “certain unpleasant characters” were being brought into the limelight, adding: “And they’re very, very easy to hate and I’m kind of thinking, why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?
Jo Brand refused to apologise for her 'battery acid joke' (Image: DAILY STAR • SPLASH • MATT SPRAKE)
Jo Brand
