‘Not afraid of controversy’: Edinburgh fringe rejects calls to cancel Amanda Knox comedy
Edinburgh Fringe organisers and the venue Gilded Balloon Teviot have rejected calls to cancel Amanda Knox’s sold-out comedy show, Cartwheel, despite criticism from Meredith Kercher’s family and a petition signed by more than 9,000 people. The dispute matters because it raises questions about artistic freedom, the limits of comedy and the sensitivities surrounding a high-profile murder case.
Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were acquitted in 2015 of Kercher’s 2007 murder after earlier convictions; Rudy Hermann Guede was convicted and later released in 2021. Kercher’s sister Stephanie said the show trivialised violence against women, while Knox said it addresses motherhood and misogyny, honours Kercher’s memory and does not joke about her death. Fringe director Tony Lankester said decisions on the show rest with Knox and the venue, and the venue cited the festival’s open-access commitment to lawful free expression.
In short
- Fringe rejects calls to cancel Amanda Knox’s comedy show.
- Kercher’s family says the show trivialises violence.
- Knox says the show honours Kercher’s memory.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The family of a murdered woman is asking for their sister's memory to be respected by those with a platform. Meredith Kercher's death caused genuine devastation, and Stephanie Kercher's concern that the show trivialises violence against women reflects legitimate worries about the boundaries of acceptable humour. When thousands of people believe a real crime should not become entertainment material, respecting the wishes of those most affected—rather than prioritising absolute artistic freedom—honours basic human dignity.
The case against
Artistic freedom and free expression are foundational principles that protect all voices, especially those telling difficult truths. Amanda Knox was acquitted and has the right to process her own experience and address serious issues like misogyny through her art. Comedy often meaningfully confronts dark subjects precisely by handling them unflinchingly. Once we empower anyone sufficiently upset to veto art they find objectionable, we undermine the principle that protects marginalised voices and uncomfortable narratives from censorship by those in positions of power or influence.
Explained simply
Meredith Kercher, a British student, was murdered in Perugia, Italy, in 2007. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were acquitted in 2015 after earlier convictions; Rudy Hermann Guede was convicted and released in 2021.
Knox’s show, Cartwheel, is a comedy about motherhood and misogyny. Knox says it honours Kercher’s memory and does not make jokes about her death, while Kercher’s sister Stephanie says the show trivialises violence against women.
The dispute touches on how comedy can address painful events and where artistic freedom meets the concerns of people affected by them. The Edinburgh Fringe is an open-access festival, where venues and performers have a role in deciding which lawful shows go ahead.