A WELSH comedian has caused controversy after describing Newport as if “Sports Direct built a theme park and Greggs won the catering contract”.
Leroy Brito, from Butetown in Cardiff, has sold out shows at the Wales Millennium Centre and appeared on programmes such as Six Nations Sin Bin, Elis James: Football Nation and Black and Welsh.
After finding a spectator from Newport, Brito said: “Let me paint a picture for you guys if you’ve never been.
“Imagine Sports Direct built a theme park and Greggs won the catering contract.”
Ironically, the West End Comedy Club where Brito was performing can be found on London’s Great Newport Street.
The video has racked up more than 7,800 likes on Instagram since being posted on Thursday, September 28.
One user commented: “I just dropped my phone and smashed the screen after watching this. But there’s plenty of phone repair shops in the Port to fix it.”
Another said: “I hate that I was in Newport’s Sports Direct today, like he couldn’t be more spot on.”
A Newport native replied: “I’m Newport born and bread [sic] and this is hilariously true. Spot on mate.”
So what do people outside Sports Direct think of Brito’s description?
Lyndon Knight, 79, said: “I’ve just had friends up from Devon for a week and they were very impressed with Newport.
“I didn’t show them the worst parts, but they loved it. They said people out to come on holiday here, there’s so much to do.”
Zoe Embrey, 33, from Shaftesbury, said: “I’ve heard other things said about Newport, but a theme park? It’s not busy enough.”
Newport native Sue Fletcher, 44, saw the funny side. “I know what he means,” she said. “But I am partial to a Greggs!”
David Miller, 60, from St Woolos said: “I suppose it’s the same for most towns – we are not on our own. It’s just a sign of the times.”
Jane Lolin reasoned: “That’s a bit contradictory. You’ve got Greggs, which has some unhealthy things, and Sports Direct which is a sports shop.
"But I suppose that’s what he’s saying – Newport is a bit of everything.”
Newport City Council has declined to comment on the comic's description.
To see the full clip, go to www.instagram.com/leroybrito.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel