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Comedian Mike Ward launched a crowdfunding campaign on Tuesday to cover the legal fees in connection to his litigation against the Human Rights Tribunal. Within hours he received nearly $2,500.

Last week, the court sentenced the comedian to pay $35,000 to Jérémy Gabriel — who was the subject of a number in one of his shows —as well as $7,000 to his mother, Sylvie Gabriel.

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The Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Ward had violated the young man’s right to equality by making discriminatory marks based on his disability at a show which was presented 230 times from 2010 to 2013.

The controversial comedian has declared that he will appeal the decision.

On his Facebook page, the comedian said he was not defending his “gag”, which he described as “bad”, but “the idea behind the gag.”

“You have the right to be offended by a joke, but you should not use a government agency because a comedian hurt your feelings,” he wrote.