Quebec comedian Mike Ward had 'no choice but to fight' human rights commission on joke about singer Jeremy Gabriel
CTV
The Supreme Court of Canada says comedian Mike Ward's comments about a disabled singer did not amount to discrimination under Quebec's rights charter.
"I had no choice but to fight," said Ward in a Friday evening reaction video posted to social media. "I think I did what any comedian should do, what any comedian must do."
The comedian said he was "relieved" by the Supreme Court's ruling which, in a In a 5-4 split decision Friday morning, ruled Ward had the right to make fun of Jeremy Gabriel, a former child singer with a disability.
"It's a big day for me ... I'm not happy to have won, I am relieved, there's a difference," said Ward, "Jeremy, if you’re listening, good luck in your life. I wish you joy and success."
The case pitted the comedian against the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, which had succeeded in obtaining $35,000 in damages for Gabriel from the Quebec Court of Appeal.
