We know that male comics like talking about their appendages on stage but it seems that this Edinburgh we can all get our cocks out! An amazing ‘Cockgate’ publicity stunt has scandalised the Edinburgh Fringe this year! We’re already planning our counter offensive for 2012 with ‘Vag-gate’.
The crudely named 'Kunt & The Gang' (KATG), spent just four days handing out penis shaped stickers to promote their show with audience members (no pun intended…), and with practically no other promotion, their shows sold out due to the controversy this caused. The stickers ended up in parts no other promotional item has been able to reach! Posters were ‘defaced’ all over the city with the stickers appearing in uncompromising positions including Christine Hamilton’s wine glass and Richard Herring’s crotch! Use your imagination for some of the other applications!
Despite the fact that KATG has been nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award for "pushing his sticky cocks way beyond what seemed possible…" they have also been fined and invoiced for damage related to the stickers appearing on posters all over Edinburgh. The enforced removal of the stickers by some promoters resulted in a hilarious ‘ghost-cock’ phenomena which only served to fuel the whole publicity machine all over again!
KATG has now fired Bob Slayer, the producer who came up with the cocky PR campaign, claiming that 'he knows his audience…' and doesn't need 'coverage in po-faced luvvie mags like The Stage, and shows full of pompous, middle class, chin-stroking ponces.' He doth protest too much! Read the full story HERE.
Meanwhile the Underbelly has threatened legal action, the Fringe Office has made an official complaint and the City Council came to KATG's Free Festival venue, The Hive, to give them a stern telling off, although they struggled to keep straight faces after they genuinely told them that they had spent the day pulling off over 100 cocks around Edinburgh!
There has clearly been a sense of humour failure from the powers that be – surely we have more serious things to worry about than a few harmless willy stickers? Graffiti and urine do far worse damage to city infrastructure.
SUPPORT (Wearing their Cocks with Pride)
Stewart Lee and Robin Ince have offered to set up a 'Cock Aid' benefit gig to help cover KATG’s costs.
Messages of support from other comedians including Al Murray, Russell Kane and Omid Djalili have been extended to KATG as well as comedians taking part in the Alternative Fringe, at The Hive (KATG’s venue) and The Stand.
See more pictures of comedians wearing their cocks with pride HERE
Acts: Stewart Lee, Robin Ince, Phil Kay, Charlie Chuck, Simon Donald, ITV's 'Show Me the Funny' judge Kate Copstick (pictured above)
Group shots: Stand Acts, Alternative Fringe and the Hive Acts.
