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Comedian Stephen Fry has said he is "prepared to go to prison" over the "Twitter joke" trial.
Fry was at a benefit gig for a man who is appealing against his conviction for sending a menacing communication.
Paul Chambers had tweeted: "Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week... otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"
Fry argued that Chambers' tweet was an example of Britain's tradition of self-deprecating humour and banter.
Appeal funds
Chambers' case has become a cause celebre on Twitter, with hundreds of people reposting his original comments in protest at the conviction.
"This [verdict] must not be allowed to stand in law," Fry said, adding that he would continue to repeat Chambers' message and face prison "if that's what it takes".
Among the other celebrities lending their support to the fundraising evening were Al Murray, Rufus Hound, Katy Brand and Father Ted writer Graham Linehan.
Speaking generally about the internet and freedom of speech, Linehan told the audience: "We've got this incredible tool and we should fight any attempt to take it out of our hands."
The benefit gig, at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, aimed to raise funds for Chambers' appeal.
Freedom of speech
The aim of the organisers is that he will not be forced to drop his case because of the possibility he would have to pay the prosecution's legal costs were he to lose.
Few of the stars were prepared to assign wisdom to Chambers' original tweet, however.
Sitting inconspicuously in the stalls, Chambers was subjected to plenty of good-natured ribbing from those on stage and was variously described as a knucklehead, a nerd and a "doughnut".
Murray even branded the gig the "Save Paul Chambers from his own stupid destiny event".
But everyone seemed united by a desire to protect freedom of speech or at least the ability to recognise the difference between jokes and menacing terrorist threats.
Chambers' lawyer, David Allen Green, also addressed the audience, briefing them on the key details of his case.
Fry was at a benefit gig for a man who is appealing against his conviction for sending a menacing communication.
Paul Chambers had tweeted: "Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week... otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"
Fry argued that Chambers' tweet was an example of Britain's tradition of self-deprecating humour and banter.
Appeal funds
Chambers' case has become a cause celebre on Twitter, with hundreds of people reposting his original comments in protest at the conviction.
"This [verdict] must not be allowed to stand in law," Fry said, adding that he would continue to repeat Chambers' message and face prison "if that's what it takes".
Among the other celebrities lending their support to the fundraising evening were Al Murray, Rufus Hound, Katy Brand and Father Ted writer Graham Linehan.
Speaking generally about the internet and freedom of speech, Linehan told the audience: "We've got this incredible tool and we should fight any attempt to take it out of our hands."
The benefit gig, at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, aimed to raise funds for Chambers' appeal.
Freedom of speech
The aim of the organisers is that he will not be forced to drop his case because of the possibility he would have to pay the prosecution's legal costs were he to lose.
Few of the stars were prepared to assign wisdom to Chambers' original tweet, however.
Sitting inconspicuously in the stalls, Chambers was subjected to plenty of good-natured ribbing from those on stage and was variously described as a knucklehead, a nerd and a "doughnut".
Murray even branded the gig the "Save Paul Chambers from his own stupid destiny event".
But everyone seemed united by a desire to protect freedom of speech or at least the ability to recognise the difference between jokes and menacing terrorist threats.
Chambers' lawyer, David Allen Green, also addressed the audience, briefing them on the key details of his case.
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