Aaron Barschak
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Aaron Alexander Barschak(born 1966 inSouthwark,London) is an English self-styled "comedy terrorist" and fringe UK politician. In 2003, he attracted media attention bygatecrashingPrince William's 21st birthday party.
Background
[edit]Aaron Barschak was born in 1966 and grew up in Hampstead in North London attending City of London School where he learntFrenchandSpanish.l[1][2]After leaving school, Barschak travelled to Bolivia working at importing Western pop records and later moved to New York to study acting.[2]
The Windsor Castle gatecrash
[edit]Barschak came to public attention on 21 June 2003 when he gatecrashedPrince William's 21st birthday party atWindsor Castlewhilst wearing a pink dress, a false beard and aturbanin a fashion similar toOsama bin Laden.He scaled the walls of the castle and entered William's party. He was arrested shortly after storming reaching the stage where William was giving a speech. Barschak was not prosecuted.[3][4][5][6]The intrusion triggered a police investigation into the security breach.[7]
Edinburgh Festival appearances
[edit]Barschak appeared for a three-week run at theUnderbellyvenue at the 2003Edinburgh Fringewith a show entitledOsama Likes It Hotco-written withBrendhan Lovegrove,[8][9]
Election campaigns
[edit]Barschak stood as candidate at theBrent East by-electionof 2003 gaining 37 votes. He stood again inWitneyin the2010 General Election,against theleaderof theConservative Partywith 53 votes.
Other notable stunts
[edit]In 2003 Barschak was found guilty of causing criminal damage and imprisoned for one month after he threw a bucket of red paint over the artistJake Chapmanapparently in protest (albeit in a suitably parodic form) over the latter's vandalism of a series of original prints ofGoya'sThe Disasters of War.[10][11]
In 2005, he was arrested and bailed following an incident in Wapping.[12]
References
[edit]- ^The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion
- ^ab"Aaron Barschak: 'Comedy terrorist'".BBC News (BBC). 24 June 2003.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^"Windsor intruder escapes action".BBC News. 14 July 2003.
- ^Morris, Steven (15 July 2003)."Windsor party intruder escapes charges".The Guardian.
- ^"CPS statement – Aaron Barschak".The Crown Prosecution Service. 14 July 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2007.
- ^"'My son is Windsor intruder'".BBC News. 22 June 2003.
- ^"Investigation into the Breach of Security at Windsor Castle... on 21 June 2003"(PDF).City of London Police. 14 August 2003. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 30 September 2007.
- ^Jon RonsonAnd for your encore, Mr Bin Laden?The Guardian26 July 2003
- ^Smith, Claire (18 August 2003)."Encore for Barschak in act that's so bad it's good".The Scotsman.
- ^BBC'Comedy terrorist' guilty of paint attack30 October 2003
- ^BBCPaint attack comedian jailed24 November 2003
- ^BBCBarschak bailed over 'bomb hoax'9 April 2005