![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEC_260234763-f9d4.jpg\")
\n\t\tRachel Creeger and Philip Simon were due to perform at this year\u2019s Edinburgh Fringe in a matter of weeks (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tRachel Creeger and Philip Simon were due to perform at this year\u2019s Edinburgh Fringe in a matter of weeks (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n
Jewish comedians Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon have spoken out after having their shows axed unexpectedly.<\/p>\n
Both were due to perform at the Whistlebinkies bar as part of this year\u2019s Edinburgh Fringe<\/a>, which runs from August 1 to 25. <\/p>\n Creeger\u2019s show was titled Ultimate Jewish Mother and would mark her third time doing stand-up at Whistlebinkies.<\/p>\n Simon, who co-hosts the podcast<\/a> Jew Talkin\u2019 To Me?\u2060 alongside Creeger, was due to take his variety show, Jew-O-Rama, which displays Jewish comedic talents, to the same venue.<\/p>\n However, just weeks before taking to the stage, they were informed that the shows would not be going ahead, claiming they were told that venue staff expressed safety fears.<\/p>\n The comedians were allegedly notified of the cancellation on July 18. At this point, despite their intention of booking another venue, it was already too late to make secondary plans.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Consequently, their names no longer appear on the official Fringe site. <\/p>\n According to The Telegraph<\/a>, the concerns were allegedly raised after an announcement said police supervision would be increased for the venue, amid existing concerns about the safety of Jewish acts.<\/p>\n Creeger told the publication: \u2018Sadly, this is part of an ongoing problem faced by Jewish performers in this country. <\/p>\n \u2018We are being cancelled and often silently boycotted.\u2019<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Simon voiced his own qualms about the immediate \u2018solution\u2019 to the alleged safety concerns being to \u2018remove the Jews from the bill\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018This is emblematic of the problem facing Jewish artists and performers in the UK today,\u2019 he stated.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t In a statement to Chortle<\/a>, Free Fringe CEO Luke Meredith said: \u2018The decision not to host the two shows was taken by the venue alone. So far as we understand, this was a staff decision based on last year\u2019s experience when they experienced a significant rise in both \u201cFree Palestine\u201d and Zionist graffiti, together with police notices that they said made them feel unsafe.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The matter was first brought to our attention in late May, after the print deadline for the brochure had passed. I thought at the time that, having explained the police were only taking precautions and no actual threats had been made, and that moving them after they were already advertised in print might be detrimental, that the matter had been resolved. Apparently, however, it had been understood that we were to move the shows.\u2019<\/p>\n Meredith continued on Friday: \u2018I was made aware of this a week ago, and since then we have been working with the shows to try and find them a suitable replacement slot, including approaching other organisations. <\/p>\n \u2018Nothing has been possible so far, but we welcome any offer of help. If anyone has a space in central Edinburgh that would like to host them, we would be happy to run it.\u2019<\/p>\n Speaking further to the Jewish Chronicle<\/a>, Simon declared that \u2018this would not happen to any other ethnic minority\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018We are bipartisan. My show is a Jewish compilation show where we have a rolling lineup of Jewish and non-Jewish comedians.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t On what his show entails, further adding to the shock and confusion he felt when the show was scrapped, Simon added: \u2018We had no politics, as far as I\u2019m aware, put out onto the stage.\u2019<\/p>\n He explained how the show has been running for about nine years and has already been hosted in Whistlebinkies five times, insisting his material is \u2018not about Israel whatsoever\u2019, but suggesting others now feel \u2018braver\u2019 in what they can complain about.<\/p>\n \u2018My show is really about the idea that all mums are the same,\u2019 said Creeger. \u2018It ends with wishing for peace for everyone. It\u2019s like a lovely, warm hug of a show.\u2019<\/p>\n The pair are now experiencing financial hardship, having paid thousands to fund their Fringe shows. This included travel, accommodation, and marketing costs.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s about \u00a32,500,\u2019 Creeger revealed of what she has already spent. \u2018Which I have to save up for the entire year to afford.\u2019<\/p>\n Pointing out what he believes are double standards, Simon argued that there would be \u2018outrage\u2019 if this happened to other comedians who were not Jewish, saying the venue would be \u2018boycotted, shut down, [and] never allowed to trade\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s not what we\u2019re asking for in the least \u2026 but there\u2019s no logic as to why this has happened this year specifically.\u2019<\/p>\n Simon has two other shows, Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way? and School\u2019s Out Comedy Club, which are still scheduled to go ahead at this year\u2019s Fringe.<\/p>\n Whistlebinkies and the Edinburgh Fringe have been contacted for comment.<\/strong><\/p>\n Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260231583-9f46.jpg\")
\n\t\tCreeger was set to take her show, Ultimate Jewish Mother, to Whistlebinkies for the third time (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260232075-81a8.jpg\")
\n\t\tSimon has already performed his variety show at the bar five times (Picture: philipsimon.co.uk)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260234106-943a.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe stand-up star insists his show is not political (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n![\"Edinburgh,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260233187-4792.jpg\")
\n\t\tWhistlebinkies staff allegedly had \u2018safety concerns\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260231630-1d73-e1753554704571.jpg\")
\n\t\tCreeger has already spent \u00a32,500 to fund her show (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_260232013-5818.jpg\")
\n\t\tSimon declared that \u2018this would not happen to any other ethnic minority\u2019 (Picture: philipsimon.co.uk)<\/p>\n