Lisa Riley has spoken out following reports that comedian Peter Kay made a harsh joke about her during his recent stand-up performance. 

The Emmerdale actress, who has been open about her weight loss journey, seemingly responded to the controversy with a cryptic yet positive message on social media.

The incident reportedly took place during Kay’s highly anticipated Manchester homecoming show on Saturday night. 

As the comedian performed, two hecklers were escorted out of the venue. Later in the evening, 

another female audience member was also asked to leave after shouting, “We love you, Peter Kay.” 

According to reports, the comedian responded with a remark that left many in the audience stunned—allegedly comparing the woman’s appearance to Lisa Riley’s.

Audience Backlash Over Kay’s Jokes

The reported comment sparked a wave of criticism, with some audience members describing Kay’s performance as “nasty and bitter.” Fans who had waited years to see the comedian live were left disappointed, with a number of them even choosing to leave early.

One attendee told Mail Online:

“The whole thing just feels very nasty and bitter. His performance was poor, but the way he dealt with one heckler and someone shouting ‘We love you’ was ridiculous. My friend and I left the show after that, half an hour early. Others left the show early too.”

Another audience member expressed their disappointment, saying they had “lost a lot of respect” for the comedian due to how he handled the heckler’s removal. The attendee also criticized some of Kay’s other jokes, including one where he allegedly performed an impression of a blind person, as well as remarks about his own personal struggles and fellow TV personality Paddy McGuinness.

“He did a blind person impression which was really offensive, made a lot of jokes about how he hasn’t had an erection for years after taking ‘sertraline 40mg,’ and made other very rude jokes which isn’t what you’d expect,” the audience member added.

“He also said Paddy McGuinness will do anything for a bit of money, called him deaf, and then pulled apart his show about factories. I understand humour is subjective, so it may just be a few people who didn’t appreciate the jokes last night.”

Lisa Riley’s Response

Amid the backlash, Lisa Riley took to Instagram to share a subtle yet powerful message. The Emmerdale actress, who has lost an incredible 12 stone over the years and often speaks about body positivity, did not directly address Kay’s alleged remark but instead posted an inspirational quote.

The quote read:

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”

In her caption, she urged followers to focus on the positive rather than the negative, writing:

“See the good in life….before you ALWAYS jump to the negative….it’s such a simpler way to live for sure #grateful #gratitude #nomoaning #think.”

Though she did not explicitly mention Peter Kay or the reported joke, many fans saw her post as a dignified response to the controversy.

Mixed Reactions to Peter Kay’s Show

Kay’s recent shows have been highly anticipated, with fans eager to see him back on stage after years away from the limelight. However, this particular performance appears to have left some attendees feeling uncomfortable rather than entertained.

While Peter Kay has yet to address the criticism, fans remain divided—some defending his comedic style and others believing he crossed a line.

Representatives for both Peter Kay and Lisa Riley have been approached for comment. For now, Riley’s response suggests she is choosing to rise above the drama and focus on positivity rather than negativity.

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