"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.
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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.
ZhldnutGet to know Achmed, the Dead Terrorist, in this clip from my 2007 special Spark. 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. Get Free Sayings Ringtones For Your Phone. 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. 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.Īnd the ASA agreed. According to, South Africa's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that a GloMobile ring tone 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.Ĭlick here to see video of Dunham's act with Achmed the Dead Terrorist.īut the government of South Africa doesn't think it's funny.
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The ring tone was taken from a puppet routine performed by Dunham, a native Texan, in a TV special on Comedy Central. Comedian Defends 'Achmed the Dead Terrorist' Puppet Routine Against South African Banįunnyman ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is fuming after a ring tone advertisement based on his popular comedy skit, "Achmed the Dead Terrorist," was scrubbed from South African TV because it mocks Islam.