British comedian Jimmy Carr has been widely criticised after delivering a controversial joke about the murder of South African woman Reeva Steenkamp by her boyfriend, paralympian Oscar Pistorius.

Steenkamp was shot and killed by Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Pistorius has been charged with culpable homicide and jailed for five years.

• ‘We don’t want revenge: Steenkamp’s parents

Speaking at the celebrity-packed Q Awards in London, the 42-year-old joked about the athlete’s motives fotr shooting his girlfriend while she was in the bathroom.

Carr kicked off his controversial joke by complaining about the length of the lines outside the men’s toilets at the upmarket event.

“So frustrating. All I’m saying is I can understand it from Oscar Pistorius’ point of view,” Carr quipped.

The crowd, which included music stars like Ed Sheeran and Kate Bush, remained dead silent while Carr continued his risky stunt.

“That’s not the controversial bit,” Carr warned.

“Here it comes … I blame her. If she hadn’t been in that disabled toilet, none of this would have happened.”

The nature Steenkamp’s death, which prompted one of the biggest trials in South African history, was widely discussed in court, with reenactments of her movements, photos of her dead body and recreations of the bathroom where she died.

After the event, Carr did not seemed fussed by the poor reception.

“I think it went all right,” he told The Mirror.

Social media soon erupted with criticism for the comedian, with many saying he took the joke too far and was insensitive to the plight of Steenkamp and her family.

The problem with Jimmy Carr’s jokes was not the subject matter, it was that if you’re going to go dark, you have to be FUNNY.

— John Edginton (@JohnEdginton) October 23, 2014

I wonder if Jimmy Carr would of made the same joke if it was he’s daughter he shot dead #notnice — Anna (@AnnaPastides) October 23, 2014

However, the comedian did have some fans who thought the joke was “hilarious”.

How did @jimmycarr not even get an awkward laugh at the Q awards?? I probably would have wet myself … — Liam Jennions (@LJennions) October 23, 2014

Kudos Jimmy Carr, keeping it controversial — Harry Brown (@Browny45171) October 23, 2014

Carr is yet to make further comment on the incident.