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PAINFUL MEMORY

Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace demands to know Ricky Gervais’ dead baby joke after he devastated grieving couple in Belfast

The former Big Brother star previously revealed her devastation at losing four babies

AISLEYNE Horgan-Wallace has demanded Ricky Gervais reveals what his controversial "dead baby joke" was, after a grieving Belfast couple left his show mid-way through this week.

Suzi and Ryan Gourley were left horrified after the 55-year-old cracked a gag about dead babies at his Belfast show on Tuesday night.

 Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has hit out at Ricky Gervais
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Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has hit out at Ricky GervaisCredit: Goff Photos

He has since defended the joke – and argued that trying to protect people’s feelings is tantamount to censorship.

But as debate continues online, reality star Aisleyne, who has lost babies of her own, has reached out to the comedian, asking him to reveal what he said on stage.

She tweeted: "What exactly was the joke about dead babies? @rickygervais."

And she added shortly after: "As a woman who has lost babies one at 6 months I find it hard to imagine anything funny in a joke about dead babie @rickygervais."

The star went on: "Ino & appreciate ur philosophy tht comedy shud not have restraints & I think comedy can be healing BUT not about lost babies.

"The difference is a lost/dead baby has no control over living or dying & nor do the parents so it's torturous & so painful.

"I'm so sorry for the couple who had to suffer @rickygervais joke and I totally understand them they should not feel bad for speaking out."

Aisleyne previously revealed her devastation at losing four babies, and revealed how cruel Twitter trolls have called her "barren".

The star explained how the nasty level of abuse she receives on social media has left her with sleepless nights and led to her sharing emotional messages about her heartbreaking miscarriages.

 Suzi and Ryan Gourley said they were so appalled by the show that they walked out
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Suzi and Ryan Gourley said they were so appalled by the show that they walked outCredit: Facebook

Speaking to , Aisleyne admitted: "I've had people say to me on Twitter, 'You're barren, you can’t have kids, nobody wants you, nobody wants to have kids with you.’ I’ve had it all and it’s hard."

 Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has opened up about her devastation at losing four babies and revealed how cruel Twitter trolls have called her "barren"
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Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has opened up about her devastation at losing four babies and revealed how cruel Twitter trolls have called her "barren"Credit: Rex Features

Meanwhile, it comes after Suzi and Ryan revealed how they left Waterfront Hall mid-way through Ricky's gig following the joke.

They complained to local press, causing a media storm that saw stillbirth charity Sands issue a warning to other grieving parents about attending future dates on Ricky's Humanity tour.

Unbeknown to Ricky, it was the Gourley's first night out since their child was stillborn in July last year.

Today the star of The Office tweeted: "'Is there any subject you shouldn't joke about?' is no less ridiculous a question than 'Is there any subject you shouldn't talk about?'

 Ricky posted up this meme amidst the backlash about his 'dead baby joke'
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Ricky posted up this meme amidst the backlash about his 'dead baby joke'Credit: TWITTER

"Offence often occurs when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target. They're not always the same.

"Jokes about "bad things" don't have to necessarily be pro those bad things. Surely, a joke that's anti bad things is a good thing, no?

"Basically, offence is about feelings, and feelings are personal. People simply don't like being reminded of bad things."

He also posted up a meme featuring his face and the statement, "I see offence as the collateral damage of free speech."I hate the thought of a person's ideas being modified or even hushed because someone somewhere might not like to hear them.

"Outside actually breaking the law or causing someone physical harm, 'hurting someone's feelings' is almost impossible to objectively quantify."

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Suzi Gourley and husband Ryan, from Bangor, told  it had been their first night out together since their son Eli died in July last year.

Suzi said: "I know people take things differently and I know our emotions are raw, but why joke about a baby being dead? It’s just wrong.

"Some people might read this and think we’re over-sensitive and maybe we are - but it’s just not funny.

"We went and hoped to have a bit of a laugh. It was our first night out together - I’d heard of this comedian but I’d never seen him.

"I didn’t know what his jokes were like but I wouldn’t have expected that in a million years from anybody."

 Ricky Gervais is known for his controversial jokes
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Ricky Gervais is known for his controversial jokesCredit: PA:Press Association

When asked if she had a message for Ricky  - who was performing in the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday night on his Humanity tour - she said: “I would tell him: 'Please, please consider your audience.

"Bereaved parents are one in four. There’s no way I was the only one sitting there last night that that it didn’t strike a nerve with."

Ricky tweeted thanking Belfast fans for their support just hours ago, writing: "Thank you Belfast!

"You are f***ing amazing. You are very sick people for laughing at the awful things I said, but I love you anyway :)."

 Ricky thanked Belfast fans for their support
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Ricky thanked Belfast fans for their supportCredit: Twitter

Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Support NI posted a warning on its Facebook page saying couple had walked out over a "dead baby joke".

A Waterfront Hall spokesman revealed that they were aware of the issue but said: "Unfortunately we have no control at all over the material artists choose to use on stage, but we do of course appreciate this particular theme will have caused distress."

Last night Ricky thanked fans for finding his jokes funny.

He tweeted: "Thank you Belfast! You are f*****ng amazing. You are very sick people for laughing at the awful things I said, but I love you anyway :)"



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