Belfast comedian Vittorio Angelone has apologised after making a joke referencing sexual violence about content creator Rebecca Goodwin, who is currently involved in a sexual assault trial. The remark, shared via a “Have a Word” podcast roast, referred to Goodwin being raped and alleged that the perpetrator was “her dad”, prompting widespread online backlash.
In his apology, Angelone says the comment was “pathetic” and “not funny”, and that he made a joke he “shouldn’t have made”. Several outlets report he posted the apology on Instagram and acknowledged he should have checked with the person mentioned before telling the story. He also says he does not intend for the apology to make the harm “okay”, but that he is grateful to those who called him out and says he will “do better in future”.
Outlets vary slightly in what they emphasise. Some foreground the apology language and his explanation about validation and standards, while others lead with the fact the joke was about rape and the existence of backlash. BBC News and other papers also include the context that the roast was recorded months after Goodwin first reported the assault to police. Coverage also notes that the podcast segment was behind a paywall before later gaining wider traction.
