Belfast Comedian Criticized for Rape Joke About Assault Survivor

Belfast comedian Vittorio Angelone is facing criticism for a rape joke made in a 2025 podcast episode that referenced content creator Rebecca Goodwin, who had recently spoken publicly about being a victim of sexual assault. The remarks were made during a December 2025 "roast" episode of the podcast "Have a Word," in which comedians insulted each other.

Goodwin, who reported a rape to the police in July 2025 and had discussed her experience, stated it would "forever live with me that it was allowed for my name to be used as the punchline of a malicious 'joke' about such a serious issue." She learned of the comments when clips were posted to social media recently, over a year after the episode was recorded and a year after the joke was removed from Angelone's social media accounts.

Angelone has since apologized on social media and stated he has reached out to Goodwin directly. In a statement on Instagram, he said he let his "need for validation supersede my own standards and morals," calling his actions "completely pathetic."

Rape Crisis Northern Ireland and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have both condemned Angelone's remarks. Rape Crisis Northern Ireland stated that such comments "contribute to a culture in which rape and sexual violence can be trivialized" and that "rape jokes might seem far removed from an act of sexual violence, but they sit within that same culture of minimizing and trivializing it." Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, noted that for survivors, hearing rape treated as a punchline can be "deeply hurtful" and discourage them from coming forward.

Goodwin added that while other comedians involved in the podcast episode have apologized, she did not accept their apologies as they came a year after the joke was made and no one intervened at the time. She emphasized the ongoing crisis of violence against women and girls, stating, "We are begging for our safety and experiences to be taken seriously."

The episode was recorded in September or October 2025 and remained behind a paywall for a year before being published to social media. The comments have not been edited out of the paywalled version of the podcast. Angelone is set to appear in the upcoming BBC sitcom "Rewarding."