Lisa Riley has responded to reports that Peter Kay made a “derogatory” joke about her during a recent comedy show.
The 51-year-old Bolton comedian performed in Manchester earlier this week as part of his Better Late Than Never Again tour at the AO Arena. During the show, Kay had two audience members ejected after they heckled him.
Reports state that the comedian became frustrated when a man repeatedly shouted Kay’s famous catchphrase, “garlic bread,” while he was performing. When security escorted the man out, a woman in the audience shouted, “We love you, Peter.” In response, Kay reportedly asked security to remove her as well. According to a witness, as she was leaving, Kay referred to the woman as former Emmerdale star and You’ve Been Framed host Lisa Riley, which some took as a “derogatory” comment about her weight.
Riley addressed the incident on Instagram, suggesting she wasn’t bothered by it. She shared a post that read: “Keep calm and laugh,” and added the caption, “It’s a laugh, it’s funny!” In a follow-up post on February 11, she made it clear that she was “not offended” and had “never been offended.” She expressed her love for Kay, saying, “I love Peter Kay to pieces. Laughter is my favourite medicine.”
However, some audience members were critical of Kay’s behavior. One attendee, who spoke to the Manchester Evening News, said the comedian also directed his anger at a group of people who had raised their hands when he asked if the woman should be ejected. The witness said Kay continued shouting at them for several minutes, and the crowd was divided, with some confused or upset while others laughed, unsure whether it was part of the show.
The witness described Kay’s actions as “out of order,” saying there was no need to escalate the situation so aggressively.
Others voiced their discontent on social media. One person on X (formerly Twitter) said they lost respect for Kay after the way he handled the situation, calling it “a huge waste of money” and criticizing the comedian’s lack of manners. Another fan claimed Kay “killed the atmosphere” and described his actions as “completely inappropriate and unacceptable.”
Kay’s Better Late Than Never Again tour, which spans 12 months, includes a record-breaking 100 dates at the AO Arena. In a previous statement, Kay expressed his excitement about performing, stating that laughter is more important than ever, especially during challenging times. Ticket prices for the new tour dates start at £35.
