Vittorio Angelone responds to backlash: "I made a joke that I shouldn't have made and I'd like to say sorry"

Vittorio Angelone has apologised following backlash over a "joke" he made about rape during the Have a Word podcast roast.

The "joke" was about influencer Rebecca Goodwin. She had previously appeared on the podcast, but was not present at the roast. It referenced Goodwin being raped, and implied she was a victim of incest. She is currently going through a sexual assault trial.

The Belfast comedian posted an apology on Instagram today.

"I made a joke that I shouldn't have made and I'd like to say sorry.

"The joke referenced sexual violence. At the very least I should have run the joke past the person mentioned and then still not told it because it isn't funny.

"I've reached out and apologised directly to the person mentioned in the joke."

 

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Goodwin is an OnlyFans Creator, influencer, and mother. She has featured on a number of comedy podcasts. She posted a TikTok yesterday after becoming aware of Angelone's comments.

"I understand comedy and things can be laughed at, but this is one of the hardest things I've ever been through in my life and I'm not exaggerating and it just hurts," she said.

"It's not funny and he's not funny. I wasn't asked, people sat there laughing at this joke were people I saw as genuine friends and none of them have reached out to ask if I'm okay."

Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh criticised Angelone's comments in a statement.

"Many people have experienced sexual violence, and many others live in fear of it. For survivors, hearing rape treated as a punchline can be deeply hurtful, and it reinforces the attitudes that discourage people from coming forward.

"Anyone with a public platform, including performers, promoters and venues, has a responsibility to consider who is listening and the harm this kind of material can do. To treat sexual violence as a joke betrays a deep lack of understanding of what survivors have lived through."