Crowdfunders quickly back Ward’s legal fight
Comedian Mike Ward raised over $20,000 in 24 hours thanks to a crowdfunding campaign launched this week to cover the cost of litigation against the Human Rights Tribunal, the GoFundMe page revealed Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign, launched on Tuesday, raised more than $25,000 — with a projected end goal of $93,000. Almost 800 independent benefactors donated to the comedian’s cause, with contributions ranging between $5 and $30 — though some users gave more than $300. Contributors took to the comment section to voice their rousing support of Ward during this time.
“I am surprised to see all the hateful comments. For me it does not finance a bad joke, it finances a — the principle of freedom of expression,” said one user, while another opined that “equality is also being able to laugh at everyone.”
Last week, Ward was ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution to Jérémy Gabriel — a deaf 8-year-old boy who suffers from Treacher Collins syndrome — as well as $7,000 to Gabriel’s mother Sylvie.
Gabriel’s disability was the subject of a joke in one of Ward’s shows that ran for three years, one that the Court of Human Rights deemed “discriminatory” and a violation of Gabriel’s right to equality. Almost immediately after the ruling, the controversial comedian said he would appeal the judgment, and wrote on his Facebook page that he was prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Despite the financial outpouring, critics also took to the comedian’s page.
“No to bullies. No bullying. Wishing the death of a person is not a joke. Attacking the disadvantaged in life is seedy,” wrote one user.
Ward said that so far, he’s spent approximately $93,000 in legal fees to avoid paying the $42,000 fine to Gabriel and his mother.