Comedian Dawn French Apologises for Mocking Tone on October 7 Hamas Attacks

British comedian Dawn French faced significant backlash after posting a video on social media that appeared to mock pro-Israel arguments related to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. In the video, she used a baby-like voice to parody common justifications for Israel's military response in Gaza, which many viewers interpreted as belittling the attacks and the suffering of the victims. Following widespread criticism from the public and notable figures, French issued a detailed apology, emphasizing that her intention was never to dismiss or diminish the horror of the attacks, but to criticize the actions of leaders on all sides of the conflict. She expressed regret that her disgust for Hamas was not clearly conveyed and acknowledged that her message came across as one-sided. French also shared her feelings of helplessness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis, particularly the suffering of children, and removed the original video. Her apology highlighted a desire to call out the destructive leadership perpetuating the violence while expressing sorrow for any offense caused.