Kielty criticised for 'lack of empathy' by Jewish group

Holocaust Awareness Ireland has criticised Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty for his interview on Friday with performer Boy George, for what it described as a "lack of empathy when speaking about Jews".

RTÉ today defended Mr Kielty, saying that he has "always been empathic, measured and sensitive on such matters".

During the programme, Mr Kielty asked the singer about being in Golders Green in London on the day of the stabbings in the area, in which two Jewish people were attacked, describing them as horrific.

Boy George spoke of receiving online abuse for his support of his Jewish friends in the aftermath of the attack.

The host then said: "And it's that idea that you've got attacks on the Jewish community, and the backdrop of that is obviously the horrors in Gaza and this is a complex thing, but I know that you've always spoken out that violence is never the answer."
Boy George replied saying: "Well you don't blame a whole nation for what's going on in America or in Russia or anywhere else."
Holocaust Awareness Ireland, an awareness group founded by the son of a Holocaust survivor, said on social media that the host showed a "singular lack of empathy when speaking about Jews" and asked if he had been "corrupted" by, what it described as "the RTÉ hive mind where the narrative around the issue of Israel and Jews is disturbingly unbalanced?".

In a statement, RTÉ said that Mr Kielty had stated clearly, without qualification, that these attacks were "horrific".

It continued: "He also said that the attacks took place against the backdrop of the horrors in Gaza.

At no point did he say, nor would anyone reasonably infer, that there was any justification for the attacks whatsoever.

"As someone who lost his father to a terrorist attack, Patrick has always been empathic, measured and sensitive on such matters, which he was again on this particular show.

"Shortly after the 7 October attacks in [Israel in] 2023, Patrick signed off the Late Late Show with an expression of sympathy for the victims and a hope for peace.