Australian comedian Lisa Jane Spencer is facing fierce backlash after she posted a video appearing to mock Aboriginal people. The video, uploaded to her social media account on Tuesday morning, features Spencer in a mock interview as a character named Aunty Lisa, captioned with the words 'Aboriginal person'.
'I started identifying as a black fella a few months ago … And I finally feel at peace with who I am, one of the mob,' Spencer says in the video. The clip then cuts to her dancing barefoot, chanting and singing while clapping two sticks together. 'Aboriginal identity transcends skin colour. I am Aboriginal, end of story,' she adds, covered in white face paint.
The skit also shows Spencer sniffing petrol from a red jerry can, and features an SBS Insight logo in the top right corner. The backlash was swift, with many calling out the comedian on social media. 'This is deeply disturbing and insensitive. Please remove this,' one person commented. 'Racism isn't comedy,' another insisted.
An SBS spokesman condemned the video: 'SBS is aware of these posts and the unauthorised use of SBS logos. The posts and individuals are in no way associated with our content and have been reported. SBS unequivocally condemns all forms of racism and recognises the damaging impact it has on individuals, communities and social cohesion. Such views have no place in Australian society.'
Despite the criticism, Spencer told news.com.au she has no intention of apologising. 'I stand by the jokes. This is comedy. I make fun of everyone equally. Plenty of people loved the video. I find the welcome to country offensive,' she said. She also took to Instagram to defend herself, insisting she was simply making a 'joke' and that she likes to 'push boundaries'.
'I love Aboriginal people. And I think they're smart enough to know when they're being used,' she wrote, adding that 'petrol sniffing happens' because 'AI will tell you'. 'It's a very real thing in remote Australia.'
She continued: 'My joke was first about how easy it is to perform identity for attention and/or benefits. If a man can dress like a woman, play out stereotypes of what women do, and win thousands in a court case, then I can satirise white people claiming Aboriginal heritage benefits. The petrol at the end of my skit was the punchline, just as my Indian videos where I took a squat.'
'And although you're entitled to feeling offended, you're also proving my point: you need victimhood. There's nothing stopping you from taking the joke and laughing. And so I apologise to absolutely nobody. Not to the Aboriginals… Indians… and anyone else who I have and will continue to make jokes.'
Refusing to remove the video or apologise, she concluded: 'This is comedy. If you can't make jokes about certain people and things, then that is a form of privilege and hierarchy, and comedy is about tearing those down. This is what I do, I push boundaries… and that's never going to change.'
