Comedian Jim Jefferies says his abusive mum could explain his attitude towards women

Jim Jefferies says he’s not a misogynist, but concedes he might have a chip on his shoulder about women at times. The comedian opens up about his abusive childhood in a very frank interview.

Jim Jefferies admits his jokes are misogynistic but says he doesn’t hate women.

Appearing on the cover of the September issue of Rolling Stone Australia, the comedian addresses the graphic sexist jokes that have become a trademark of his stand-up.

“I don’t believe I’m a misogynist, no,” he told the magazine.

“But that’s, you know, that’s probably what a misogynist would say. Women are half the population, I am going to make jokes about them.

“I do self-deprecating comedy all the time where I make jokes about myself. Oh, I guess you could make an argument that I hate myself.”

Comedian and actor Jim Jefferies gets serious in his interview with Rolling Stone. Picture: Supplied

Jefferies, 47, the host of Seven game show The 1% Club, has in the past said his act is an “acquired taste”.

Explaining the perceived anger he is accused of levelling against women, Jefferies revealed he had a tough relationship with his mum. “She was a very hard woman,” he said.

Jefferies on the cover of Rolling Stone Australia. Picture: Supplied

Jefferies says he grew up with an abusive mum. Picture: Supplied

“(She) was physically very abusive and verbally a very abusive person.

“So sometimes, I imagine I have had a chip on my shoulder about women. And it’s probably been for much of my life … because my abuser was a 300 pound woman growing up. So that’s where that might come from.

“Now, if you were to hear a female comic in an interview say that their father was abusive and belittled them and was physically abusive and all this type of stuff, and then they said something about, you know, how f**king men are, you wouldn’t begrudge them. You could see where that’s coming from.

“But for some reason there’s no grey area with this, that you can’t see where I’m coming from. Or is this the one subject where you don’t know I’m joking?”

Jefferies has just tackled his first acting role in a dramatic movie. Picture: Supplied

Jefferies is also an actor and writer.

Based in the US with wife Tasie Lawrence and their two kids, he will appear in the Jordan Peele-produced Him. While he has acted in many comedy projects, it is his first drama work.

Jefferies revealed it was Russell Crowe he sought advice from when he scored the job.

“I texted Russell Crowe and I said, ‘Russell, I’ve got an acting job, can I call you quickly for some tips?’,” Jefferies explained.

“And I think he thought I just wanted acting tips … and I was asking him more about when you talk to a director, what do you do here? And is it too much for me to add a line here and there or do you not do that in drama?

“But Russell sent me a quote from Hamlet and told me to hold a mirror up to nature and I went, ‘Thanks mate’.”

Jefferies says he’d love to take on more acting work. Source: Supplied

Jefferies said he would like to act more, but that ultimately it wasn’t his choice.

“That’s like saying, ‘Do you think you’ll have sex with more attractive women?’ It’s not my decision, is it?” he joked.

“They get to make the choice. Now obviously I’m joking, I’m a happily married man … but you get what I’m saying. It’s up to the movie industry, it’s not up to me.”

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