Australians have hit out at a U.S. comedy superstar, whose recent Netflix promotion claims Australians “do nothing” and are responsible for “zero exports.”
The clip promoting American comedian Shane Gillis’ newly released stand-up special Beautiful Dogs was posted to the @Netflixisajoke social media channels – the official accounts for the comedy arm of Netflix.
In the short excerpt from the special, the 35-year-old details why he likes Australia.
“Australia’s good, Australia might be number two, that’s a good country dude,” he says.
“It’s just a whole country doing nothing. That’s what I like about them. They’re just down there – zero exports, creating nothing.
“The only export I’ve seen out of Australia is just that YouTube video of that guy punching that kangaroo in the face.”
Proud Aussies in the comments sections took offense at the backhanded compliment.
“Wi-Fi, Cervical cancer vaccines, inflatable escape slides for airplanes, ultrasound scans, electric drills, cochlear implants, pacemakers, black boxes,” one wrote.
Another said, “Umm, uranium, coal, meat, wool, gas, gold, wheat, copper, iron ore, alcohol, aluminum, crude petroleum. No, we don’t export anything.”
“All America exports is obesity, lies, and pedophiles,” quipped another.
Another took aim at Gillis’ “number two” ranking of Australia behind the States.
They wrote: “Pretty bold from someone who lives in a country without free ambulance usage, free hospital coverage, four weeks of sick leave, and, of course, the fact that we can send out children to school without fearing that they will be mass-murdered. So thankful to be “second place” to that hole of a country.”
It’s not the first time the edgy comedian has offended the masses.
Shane Gillis was fired by Saturday Night Live in September 2019 shortly after it was announced he had been hired as a cast member for the show’s 45th season.
His firing came following controversy surrounding a string of derogatory comments about various minority groups made on his podcast, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast.
The since-removed 2018 episode included a discussion between Gillis and co-host Matt McCusker about why they disliked Asian people, Chinese food, and Chinatown, during which Gillis used a racial slur, Vox reported.
He went on to use homophobic language to describe other comedians.
The comments were widely criticized as racist, sexist, and offensive and sparked outrage on social media and in the entertainment industry.
Gillis regretted his past remarks but defended himself as a comedian who “pushes boundaries.”
The comedian landed on his feet, however, with the world of stand-up embracing him with open arms.
Australians by the thousands even sold out a run of nine shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne in 2022.