London’s Victoria & Albert Museum took some serious backlash over the weekend after it was reported that an exhibit on British humor had included the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher alongside Osama bin Laden and Adolf Hitler in a short list of “contemporary villains.”
The exhibit, which was meant to show how British humor had evolved over time, showcased Victorian “Punch & Judy” puppets along with a caption that included the following:
Over the years, the evil character in this seaside puppet show has shifted from the Devil to unpopular public figures including Adolf Hitler, Margaret Thatcher and Osama bin Laden, to offer contemporary villains.
Critics were quick to address the issue, with many noting that whatever people thought of Thatcher — Britain’s first female prime minister — she hardly belonged on a short list of “villains” that only included 9/11…
