Boyle ‘uses n–word to ridicule racism’

Published on 15/10/2012 18:59

Comedian Frankie Boyle yesterday defended his right to use words such as “n*****” when “ridiculing” racism after suing a tabloid newspaper for libel damages.

Lawyers for Mr Boyle told a High Court jury a Daily Mirror article which started with the words “Racist comedian Frankie Boyle” was defamatory. They said Mr Boyle “actively campaigned” against racism and said the newspaper had “misunderstood” the context of the comedian’s language.

But publisher Mirror Group Newspapers is defending its article – published on19 July last year – at a trial in London expected to last a week. Its lawyers said Mr Boyle was a “racist comedian” who gratuitously exploited negative stereotypes of black people for “cheap laughs”.