British comedian in misogyny row as students demand cancellation of university gig over 'laddish' rape jokes

Students today backed a petition calling on their university union to cancel a ‘sexist’ comedian’s gig.

Self-described ‘proper lad’ Dapper Laughs - real name Daniel O’Reilly - is due to bring his Socially Unacceptable tour to the Cardiff University Students’ Union, Y Plas (The Place), in February.

However, a petition demanding the union cancel the Londoner’s gig because of his ‘trivialisation of rape, unprotected sex and dehumanising of women’ has amassed almost 500 signatures in two days.

It states ‘misogynistic humour should not be supported by an organisation that stands for equality’.

Petition organiser Vicky Chandler, 21, a final-year journalism student, said: ‘Dapper Laughs is that bloke that every woman knows who dresses up sexism as banter.’

‘His jokes are so disrespectful to women and giving him a TV show and letting him perform at the university is normalising inappropriate behaviour.’

Dapper Laughs, who hails from Clapham, south-west London, came to fame for his online videos where he gives ‘lad advice on romancing the ladies and being a geezer’.

In his videos, which are peppered with very explicit language, he can be seen yelling sexual comments at women on the street or from his car as he drives past.

However, defenders saying that Dapper Laughs is nothing more than a comic persona for Daniel O'Reilly, claiming that any sexism in his jokes is intended to be ironic.

Students’ Union president Elliot Howells said Dapper Laughs had been booked to play their Y Plas venue by an external promoter and had not been vetted by the organisation.

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