The comedian, whose real-name is Stephen Kelly, is one of Ireland’s best-known online entertainers with more than 122,000 followers on TikTok.
He is a member of the well-known Hardy Bucks’ spin-off 3 Bucks Left and previously starred in the hit RTÉ show.
As Stephen “Cowboy” Lavin, he later adapted a live show idea into a successful TikTok account.
However, he has now sparked fury online after making a comment in a video saying he was “sweating here like a tinker trying to read”.
The video was condemned by a number of Traveller Rights groups on Twitter, now know as X, who called on him to apologise.
However, the comedian has now posted a video – on the 3bucksleft X account – where he addressed the clip which “has caused a bit of a stir, especially on ‘Twitter’.”
“Some people say the video is racist especially towards the Traveller community (and) other people are using it as a springboard and platform to launch personal attacks me online, which I’ve learned to expect at this game,” he wrote.
“Other people (are) demanding an apology and want me to apologise for the video. For anyone that knows me, for any length of time, knows that there is no (sic) racist bone in my body.
“Yes, of course I’ve made fun of pretty much every race on this planet, no more so than my own, myself and where I’m from. You don’t get to be from Mayo and hold the high moral ground for too long.
“But any video that I’ve ever did has always been made with no malice (sic) intent and with no real intent to cause any offence. Any video that I’ve ever did has always had the intention of humour.
“I say the intention, because comedy is subjective, sometimes it’s hit, sometimes it’s miss, (what) one person finds funny, another person won’t, and vice versa.
“That’s what makes the comedy world go around and that’s the beauty of comedy.
“So for me to issue an insincere apology over a few throwaway words when there’s so much more important things going on in the Traveller community at the minute and not just the Traveller community but communities in general, would be very disingenuous of me and serve absolutely no real purpose.”
However, Kelly adds that he will reach out “to any member of the Traveller community, any community group, and (I’d) love to sit down and discuss how things like this can be prevented from happening in the future with people like myself and communities like the Traveller community group.
“And maybe embrace humour as an inclusive tool for cross community better relations.
“Also what serves no purpose is nasty exchanges online between different people under a lot of my videos. That does absolutely no favours to either side.
“Unfortunately, the internet is a breeding spot for people that want to offend and want to be offended. And people that want to be offended will always find something to be offended by on the internet and people that want to be offended will always be the loudest people in the room.
“So, that is it guys, I’ve addressed it, I’m not coming back to it again. I’ve spent way too much mental time on it. I’ve much more important things to be at, as I’m sure most people on the internet too, so take care and stay safe.”
An earlier message on X reads that he “didn’t intent to offend anyone” as he suffered a backlash for the joke, adding that he believed, “it has been completely blown out of all proportion”.
“The last thing I want is people fighting online or on the streets,” he stressed.
However, he later sent out another tweet where he appears to be pushing back against some of the “personal attacks and bile” that he had encountered.
“Had intended to address the video that has caused such a stir on Twitter this evening,” he began, “but after reading some of the personal attacks and bile on Twitter I shall be taking a little more time.”
He added that “as a token gesture of good will” he had intended to take down video “but will reassess”.
One commentator said it was “Good to address it” as the “repercussions of a joke like that on young Travellers is immeasurable in society”.
“There are a lot of decent Travellers trying to better themselves just like settled people
“It’s tough enough for the decent ones without adding to the tsunami of bigotry they get.”
In response, Kelly said: “Unfortunately, Paddy, they don’t help themselves and I mean no ill will to any man or women and certainly don’t think that every Traveller is bad or every settled person is good, I would gladly work with the community in the future to give young Travellers a better life.”
One commentator said: “I’m sorry you’re receiving personal attacks, there’s no place for that. But that joke was a degrading stereotype, and hurtful to a community that faces unspeakable discrimination – not least in education. There’s strength in admitting mistakes and apologising. We’re all learning.”
But he also received some support with one comment reading: “Apologise for nothing. The heat will be on 10 times worse if ye do. A joke is a joke, for God’s sake.
“The country’s falling apart and clowns are worried about a comedian making a joke. Just carry on as normal, I have it on good authority that the sun will be high in the sky tomorrow.”
Another added: “Don’t you dare apologise. You’re a comedian. A hilarious one. Don’t dilute your craft and pander to the nonsense please.”
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