Comedian condemned after Palin jibe
A women's shelter has dropped US comedian Sandra Bernhard from its annual benefit event after she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she visited New York.
Bernhard, 53, who was to headline the Boston luncheon, made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington before Mrs Palin visited New York to campaign.
Bernhard said Mrs Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" during a diatribe in which she also criticised Mrs Palin for opposing abortion rights.
Many guests at Rosie's Place, a Boston shelter, had been victims of violence, public relations director Leemarie Mosca said.
"In light of our mission, we don't think violence against women is a laughing matter," she said.
Ms Mosca said the shelter expected to book a replacement before the October 16 luncheon entitled Funny Women ... Serious Business.
"Right now, our main focus is our event and making sure the event is a success," she said. "And for us, that means not including Sandra Bernhard at this time."
A representative for Bernhard had no immediate comment on the cancellation, but in a statement on her website, Bernhard said the gang-rape comment was part of a larger piece from her show about "racism, freedom, women's rights, and the extreme views of Governor Sarah Palin - a woman who doesn't believe that other women should have the right to choose".
"I certainly wish Governor Palin no harm - I'd just like her to explain to me how she can hold such outrageous views... and then go back to Alaska," she said.
Mrs Palin opposes abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.