An influencer and a group of companions have drawn fierce criticism after footage appeared online showing them joking about the supposed murder of Ann Widdecombe.
The clip was recorded and shared on social media by Danny Karne, an online personality who presents himself as an entrepreneur and “playboy millionaire.”
Karne, better known to followers as “Danny Lambo,” was visiting a luxury hotel in Kent with friends when they came across a conceptual art installation showing an elderly woman lying motionless on the floor — a display viewers said bore a striking likeness to the veteran political figure.
Seizing on the scene, Lambo turned the moment into a mock country house murder mystery, laughing as he moved between members of his group and asked which of them was responsible for killing the outspoken former politician.
The video was uploaded with the caption: “Who killed Ann Widdecombe (RIP)?” — an apparent reference to the 78-year-old public figure and claims surrounding an incident at a home in Haytor, Devon, on July 8.
The footage was filmed during Lambo’s visit to Eastwell Manor Champneys Hotel and Spa in Kent, where a two-day arts festival was being held earlier this week.
In the clip, Lambo can be heard laughing while questioning friends about whether they were the “killer,” at one point incorrectly referring to the figure on the ground as “Ann Whittingham.”
Several people shown in the video appear to play along, laughing and trading jokes as they respond to his questions.
An influencer has been described as ‘sick’ for posting a video mocking Ann Widdecombe’s murder next to an art exhibit showing an elderly woman lying ‘dead’ on the ground
The group staged a mock ‘murder mystery’ whodunit at a luxury hotel next to the performance art of a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the murdered politician
Influencer Danny Karne who goes by the moniker ‘Danny Lambo’ and describes himself as entrepreneur and playboy millionaire posted the video mocking the politician’s death
One of the party filmed the exhibit which was posted on social media to thousands of Lambo’s followers along with the caption: ‘Who killed Ann Widdecombe (RIP)?’
In the mock murder mystery, Lambo says to the camera: ‘These are the suspects. We have Sinitta…’ – at which point the woman in question is seen laughing at the camera
In the shocking video Lambo continues: ‘We have Alesha Dixon… We have Carl Cox’
The video has drawn widespread condemnation and led to demands that the artwork be withdrawn from being displayed in the future given its disturbing similarity to perceptions of the former MP and Reform UK spokesperson’s killing.
Reform leader Nigel Farage told the Daily Mail: ‘The terrible murder of Ann Widdecombe is no joke. These people are sick.’
Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, added: ‘This looks to be a bunch of sick people laughing and joking about the brutal killing of a woman loved by millions. What has happened to our country? This is not art, it is just disgusting.’
Referring to the piece of installation art, he said: ‘Most people would view this not as art but just sick.’
The video opens with Lambo – who has nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram – saying: ‘We are here at Eastwell Manor where a murder has taken place.’
The camera then turns to the artwork depicting an older woman lying on the ground wearing a pink coat surrounded by shopping bags.
Lambo jokingly calls some of his friends by the names of celebrities that they partially resemble – former Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon; pop star Sinitta and famous DJs Carl Cox and Moby.
Lambo adds: ‘These are the suspects. We have Sinitta…’ – at which point the woman in question is seen laughing at the camera.
He continues: ‘We have Alesha Dixon… We have Carl Cox.’
The camera then turns to a woman referred to by a non-celebrity name.
Lambo says: ‘[She] is our prime suspect. You know these Iranians. They’re always killing someone, somewhere.’
The camera then turns to another man asking him: ‘Any blood on the trousers?’ as it zooms in on him.
With all those present seen to be merrily enjoying the interaction, one person is heard saying: ‘It was Dexter.’
Lambo then zooms in on another man and says: ‘Could be Moby the DJ?’
He continues to ask: ‘Who killed Ann Whittingham, may she rest in peace. Which one of this motley crew killed Ann Whittingham?’
The video ends with the camera turning to the artwork once more, zooming in again on the figure of an elderly woman sprawled on the ground as if she has just been attacked.
Raised in Croydon, south London, by school teacher parents, Lambo walked out of school at age 16 with no qualifications after a headmaster told him he would achieve nothing.
He claims to have built a massive fortune through property investment and by owning three hotels in London, including the heavily stylised Pavilion Hotel in central London.
He allegedly legally changed his surname to ‘Lambo’ due to his passion for Lamborghinis – and claims to own a notable supercar collection, including a purple Diablo famed for having one of the loudest exhausts in Britain.
The artwork was made by artist Olivia Herring several months before the murder of Ms Widdecombe and is entitled ‘Still Life. Woman on the floor’.
It had already faced criticism after its resemblance to the former minister was widely pointed out – with calls for its display to be suspended as a result.
Lambo – who has now deleted the video – told the Daily Mail that he had not intended to cause any offence.
The artwork was made by artist Olivia Herring several months before the murder of the 78-year-old former minister and is entitled ‘Still Life. Woman on the floor’
The display had already faced criticism after its resemblance to Ms Widdecombe was widely pointed out – with calls for its display to be suspended as a result
The Reform UK spokesperson was murdered in the kitchen of her Devon home on July 8. The following day her body was discovered in the kitchen having been bludgeoned to death
Danny Lambo and his friends have sparked outrage for their joke including from Nigel Farage
He insisted: ‘I was a guest at this art show and the display was a surprise not pre-advertised as such. We are mocking the absurdity of the art display of her death – not her actual horrific death.
‘As you can hear in the video I even say “may she rest in peace” to bring some reality into it also. I also discussed with others attending the art show if it was in poor taste or the freedom of expression that art is all about.’
He maintained that he had seen the artwork ‘five times’ within the space of five hours while at the exhibition and that on first viewing he was ‘shocked and silent’, but that changed after a few drinks.
He added: ‘After the fifth viewing in five hours in different locations and you’ve spent the evening having a few drinks, and a good time with friends and acquaintances it’s natural not to take what it was portraying at face value and with a pinch of salt.
‘Context is important which I guess the video doesn’t show so you should never judge a book by its cover.’
He went on: ‘My condolences to Ann and her family. May they receive the justice she and they deserve. May her killer face justice.
‘Ann was a cat person and so am I. I am in no way happy about her death or would mock it in a real-life scenario. That’s not who I am.’
Ms Herring meanwhile also strongly criticised Lambo’s video but defended her right to display the work insisting that she had no plans to stop displaying it.
Referring to the video by Lambo she said: ‘It’s disgusting and trashy. This is nothing but a Z-list celebrity trying to get some publicity by trying to cash in on my artwork. I’m very angry by this video and the conduct of Mr Lambo.’
She pointed out that the artwork was created in March, months before Ms Widdecombe’s killing and was designed to depict someone collapsed ‘beneath the debris of consumption and luxury’.
But she admitted that it does bear a resemblance to perceptions of the murder based on what the public have now learned about Ms Widdecombe’s brutal death in her kitchen.
Ms Herring said: ‘Of course it does [resemble her] but everybody looks at art through their lived experience. If you are older then perhaps it represents death. But for younger people it represents collapsing under consumerism.
‘I can understand why people are comparing it to Ann Widdecombe’s death. But if I had wanted to represent that then I would have done something using a hammer and blood.
Ms Widdecombe was killed in her kitchen on July 8. She was found covered in blood on the next morning by the gardener after her PA voiced concern that they couldn’t reach her
Joshua Kerry (pictured) has been charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody
‘My intention is not to hurt people’s feelings but to start a conversation, which is what art is supposed to do. How people perceive this work is not my responsibility, I can’t control people’s brains.’
She said that there are three more events scheduled over the next two months where the controversial work is to be displayed.
Ms Herring added: ‘If people find it distasteful then that’s their opinion. That doesn’t mean it should be censored and not shown.’
