Dawn French has apologised “unreservedly” after she posted a “one-sided” video which appeared to dismiss Hamas’s murderous October 7 attacks in southern Israel.
The 67-year-old comedian and actress took down the clip about the war in Gaza.
She was accused of belittling the attacks by claiming the killing of 1,200 people by gunmen was “a bad thing”.
French mimics apparent defences of Israel’s huge military campaign in the 40-second video, posted earlier this week on X, formerly Twitter.
On Saturday, the Vicar of Dibley star acknowledged that it “appeared one-sided” and said she never meant to “mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror” of that day.
“I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but I clearly have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video,” French added on Instagram.
She said: “Ok, it’s important to address this. I posted a video in the style I’ve been using for social media in an effort to convey an important point. I clumsily used a mocking tone.
“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 said her “heart broke” for the innocent people “killed, tortured, raped and kidnapped”, adding that it was “appalling” that hostages were still being held.
French added she was “feeling increasingly helpless and hopeless as we witness the carnage and destruction worsen”, adding how she was “haunted … day and night” by “images of starving children”.
In the video about the conflict, she said: “Complicated, no, but nuanced”, adding: “Bottom line is, no.”
Then at one point she said in the higher pitched voice: “Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us.”
Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she had been “so saddened” by the original post.
Independent MP Rosie Duffield added: “One can, and should, hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th.
“It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that.”
