Chris Lilley’s shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian’s ‘problematic’ comedy shows were cancelled

Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled

As a longtime fan of Chris Lilley’s unique brand of comedy, I must admit that his recent career shift towards wildlife documentaries has left me both bewildered and intrigued. The man who once made us laugh hysterically with his mockumentary series like Summer Heights High and Angry Boys is now traversing the Australian outback in search of kangaroos and wombats.


Chris Lilley has taken an unexpected turn in his professional life following the removal of his well-known comedy series from Netflix.

For nearly a few years, the well-known Australian comedian, who’s famous for his mockumentary shows like Summer Heights High and Angry Boys, has mostly stayed out of the limelight on TV.

Over the past eight months, he has shifted his focus to a wildlife venture. 

Currently, Lilley is operating as a YouTube content creator, posting videos showcasing his wild animal interactions during his travels throughout Australia.

This week, I came across an intriguing video showcasing my favorite comedian getting up close and personal with some charming kangaroos.

A different clip features him alongside reef-shaping grey nurse sharks during a swim, whereas another recording documents his journey to Tasmania specifically for the purpose of encountering wombats.

Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled

Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled

The Logie winner recently launched his comeback project, Ja’miezing, a podcast based on his iconic schoolgirl character, Ja’mie King.

Following the removal of four TV series from Netflix due to allegations about racially insensitive “blackface” depictions, this situation arises.

It was revealed in July 2021 that shows such as “Jonah from Tonga,” “Angry Boys,” “Summer Heights High,” and “We Can Be Heroes” would no longer be available on Netflix in both Australia and New Zealand.

The performances brought up issues regarding racial bias, since multiple characters were portrayed with blackface or brownface makeup.

In the TV show “Angry Boys,” he took on the role of an African-American hip hop artist named S.mouse and sang a track titled “Squashed Mouse.” (Note: This is a more family-friendly and respectful way of paraphrasing the original, which may contain offensive language.)

To depict the troubled teenager Jonah Takalua, Jonah from Tonga colored his face brown and donned a curly wig.

Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled
Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled

In We Can Be Heroes, Lilley played Ricky Wong, a Chinese physics student.

In 2019, Chris explained his comedic approach to The Weekend Australian, saying, “I’m not aiming for what’s currently popular.

The award-winning comedian went on to say he would continue making ‘clever, layered’ characters.

In response to critics, he explained his unconventional characters by saying, “They may seem familiar at first glance, like someone you’ve encountered before. But then, unexpectedly, they have a surprising or peculiar quality.

‘[In] the end you think, “Actually, I kind of relate to this, she just did that thing that I do every day.”‘

Chris Lilley's shock career change revealed after the Australian comedian's 'problematic' comedy shows were cancelled

Read More

2024-11-15 00:33

Previous post Heretic isn’t based on a true story but it is getting some real backlash