Channel 4’s Jon Snow Sparks Outrage With Joke About Alan Rickman’s Death

Jon Snow is facing backlash online following a badly judged joke about Alan Rickman's death on Channel 4 news.  Rickman's friend and colleague Richard Wilson joined Snow for a tribute segment, following the legendary actor's death this week just months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Wilson revealed that he and Rickman had worked together on a play, Commitments, in 1980 and spoke about how generous Rickman was with his time and his willingness to travel wherever he was needed. When Snow asked Wilson if he had known that Alan's cancer was terminal, Wilson replied that he had. Referencing Wilson's famous line from the series One Foot in The Grave, Snow then joked: "So it wasn't a case of 'I don't believe it' then?" Although Wilson smiled, Twitter users took to the site to express their disappointment with the joke.

Jon Snow is a news legend but the 'I don't believe it' he shoe-horned into an interview with Richard Wilson on Alan Rickman was poor taste.

— Tony Shepherd (@tonysheps) January 14, 2016

Did Jon Snow really say that to Richard Wilson - in relation to Alan Rickman's cancer? #channel4news — Saint Vespaluus (@Saint_Vespaluus) January 14, 2016

Jon Snow @Channel4News just asked Richard Wilson if, when he heard Alan Rickman had died, it was a case of ' I don't believe it' Not good.

— Kate Robbins (@KateRobbins) January 14, 2016

Nicely judged “I don’t believe it!” gag from Jon Snow. Pillock. #slowhandclap — John Williams (@WorldofTelly) January 14, 2016

Blimey, Jon Snow shoehorned an 'I don't believe it!' quote into an interview with Richard Wilson about his friend Alan Rickman's death :(

— Stuart Dredge (@stuartdredge) January 14, 2016