BBC criticised over doc about man who trained dog to make the Nazi salute
Glasgow Friends of Israel representative hits out at film on Mark Meechan, 31, who taught his pug to salute to the term 'heil Hitler', which he called 'edgy humour'
A Jewish group in Glasgow is criticising the BBC for making a documentary about a YouTube celebrity who taught his girlfriend’s pug dog to perform the Nazi salute.
Mark Meechan, 31, told the program his video was freedom of speech and called it “edgy humour.”
Attorney Matthew Berlow of Glasgow Friends of Israel said of the show: “Are we really at the stage when we can now laugh at the painful deaths of six million human beings and call it ‘edgy’ comedy?” the Scottish Sun reported.
The BBC Three show called “The Nazi Pug: Joke or Hate?” follows Meechan, known on YouTube as Count Dankula, as he debates his conviction for recording a dog raising its paw to statements including “gas the Jew.” It became available online on Monday.
Photo credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
He taught the pug, named Buddha, to respond with the Nazi salute when prompted by statements such as “Heil Hitler” and “gas the Jews.” Meechan posted videos of the dog performing the trick on YouTube. He was found guilty of a hate crime and fined £800.
The original video, posted in April 2016 on his YouTube channel, Count Dankula, has been viewed nearly 4.3 million times. Meechan said on the video that he trained the dog to annoy his girlfriend. He later posted a video in which he apologised for the original dog clips, saying it was a joke and that he has no such political leanings.
Berlow and his organisation also have called on YouTube to remove the video. He said YouTube “is perpetuating the crime he’s been convicted of.”
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