Comedian Jimmy Carr has defended Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of murdering her three children, telling an audience: ‘She’s not evil.’
The stand-up’s comments about her mental health, made during an exchange with an audience member, have drawn both criticism and support online.
In a clip shared by his official Instagram account, Carr discusses the case after someone in the crowd calls out Clancy’s name. He asks: ‘Lindsay Clancy? Is that the lady that killed her babies?’
Carr goes on to argue that people can be quick to condemn without understanding mental illness. He suggests some women who have struggled with their mental health after childbirth may recognise something of their own experiences in the case.
‘I think that it’s a very complex thing to talk to, because I think most people see the headline “Woman kills babies” and they go, “Oh, she’s a monster, we should kill her,”’ he says. ‘Because they don’t understand what postnatal depression is, and they don’t understand what psychosis is.’
Clancy, 36, pleaded not guilty to murdering her daughter Cora, five, and sons Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan. The children died at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.
Her defence did not argue during the trial that she killed the children but said she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible.
Prosecutors disputed that defence, arguing she understood her actions.
The court case ended in a mistrial on September 4 after jurors failed to agree on a verdict. Eleven favoured finding her not guilty by reason of insanity, while one holdout opposed acquittal.
Addressing the audience, the 8 Out of 10 Cats host suggested that women who have experienced severe mental health problems after childbirth may feel empathy for Clancy.
He says: ‘A lot of women that have looked over the cliff that she fell down feel an empathy because they feel like that could have been them.’
He continues: ‘She went mad. She’s not evil, she went f****** mad and a terrible thing happened.’
Carr also questioned whether the case would have attracted the same attention had the accused been a father. He claims that ‘if a man had killed three kids, it wouldn’t have made the local f****** paper.’
He continued: ‘But women, we factor in incredibly kind and generous. Women write “kind” on their dating profiles. “Oh I would like a man to be kind.” Men have never said that, because they f****** all are.’
Some viewers objected to his remarks, with one commenting: ‘Worst Jimmy take ever.’ Another wrote: ‘Wow, was expecting him to turn it around but just kept digging into the hole… L for Jimmy.’
Others praised him for discussing the subject. One wrote: ‘I really respect him for being brave enough to speak out on this, knowing it would be controversial, a truly decent man.’
Another viewer commented: ‘Thank you for speaking out, Jimmy.’ Among those who disagreed, one wrote: ‘Lost some respect for this dude.’
Clancy, a former nurse, survived a suicide attempt on the day her children died that has left her paralysed.
The trial centred on whether she could be held criminally responsible for their deaths, with medical experts giving conflicting evidence about her mental state.
According to the NHS, postpartum psychosis affects around one in 1,000 mothers after childbirth and should be treated as a medical emergency. Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, mania and confusion.
Following the mistrial, her next court hearing is scheduled for November 2.