Comedian Rosie Jones and TV presenter Lee Peart have spoken out after being subjected to what they described as an ‘ableist and homophobic’ attack while travelling by train.
Jones – best known for her stand-up comedy and regular appearances on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats – revealed that she and Peart were verbally mocked by three passengers before having wine thrown at them.
In a joint video posted to Peart’s social media, the pair detailed the incident, showing red wine splattered across the train wall.
‘You know what that was from?’ Peart says in the clip. ‘Being attacked by ableist and homophobic a*******s.’
Jones adds: ‘Three people mocked both of our voices, threw wine at us. What a f***ing waste!’
Peart, who is openly gay, described the assault as symptomatic of a wider rise in hostility and prejudice.
‘This is the reality we are getting to now in this country,’ he said, expressing disbelief at how quickly the situation escalated.
Both comedians later confirmed they were physically unharmed and had been supported by officers from the British Transport Police, who are investigating the incident.
Peart thanked fans for their concern, writing: ‘The BTP took us home and were wonderful. Rosie Jones is a wonderful human.’
Jones, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, has previously spoken about the abuse she receives online and in public as a disabled woman in the entertainment industry.
Her Channel 4 documentary Am I a Rtard?* examined the language of hate and the persistence of ableist attitudes in Britain today, a topic made tragically relevant by this latest experience.
She later posted to Instagram to honour World Cerebral Palsy Day and mentioned the attack in her caption.
She wrote: ‘But on the train home from our gig last night, me and my good pal Lee were victims of ableism and homophobia. They mocked our voices, shouted slurs at us and even threw a wine bottle (plastic, thankfully).
‘It was a stark reminder that my CP makes me stand out, and is often used as a weapon against me. Unfortunately the worms of this world use my disability to try and make me feel like a victim. I am not.’
She continued, adding the inspiring message: ‘People with cerebral palsy should never be made to feel like guests in an unwelcoming and hostile world which wasn’t set up for people like us. We have just as much of a right to be here as anybody else. AND DON’T FORGET IT.’
This incident has sparked widespread outrage and support from fellow performers and fans, many of whom have condemned the attack as part of a troubling pattern of abuse faced by minority voices in the UK’s public sphere.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
