Backlash over Chris Lilley’s Jonah from Tonga as protest movement gains momentum

A PROTEST from the Polynesian community against Chris Lilley’s new comedy Jonah from Tonga is gaining momentum, as its ratings sink to dismal levels.

A BACKLASH from the Tongan community over the portrayal of their people in Chris Lilley’s new comedy is gaining momentum.

Young women have taken to Facebook and Instagram to protest against the ABC1 mockumentary Jonah from Tonga, posting photos with #MyNameIsNotJonah.

The show, which sees Lilley donning blackface to play a troublemaking Tongan schoolboy, has been slammed as racist and degrading to Polynesian people.

Sydney’s Leitu Havea posted her protest on Facebook at the weekend, declaring her Tongan pride.

Leitu Havea's protest against the comedy <i>Jonah from Tonga</i>. Picture: Facebook

“This post is to stand up to the stereotypes of how Pacific Islanders are being perceived as within the TV show Jonah From Tonga,” she wrote.

She received plenty of support online, with friends liking and sharing the post and commending her defiant stance.

Fellow Tongan Salote Tuakalau followed suit, declaring that she wanted to break the Jonah stereotype.

Proud Polynesian … Salote Tuakalau declares her Tongan pride. Picture: Facebook

“What is the cost of having someone gather all the negative stereotypes that are labelled on not only Tongans alone but the whole Pacific Islander community and over exaggerate it on national TV?” she wrote on Facebook.

“We aren’t all lazy and dumb. We aren’t all bullies. We respect our parents and families. We respect where we come from. We can finish high school. We are not just limited to apprenticeship jobs. We don’t hang out on the streets and get up to no good after school.”

Meanwhile, the comedy — which is a co-production between the ABC, HBO and BBC — has failed to fire in the ratings, attracting a soft 414,000 capital-city viewers on debut last week.

It slipped to a dismal 287,000 last night against Channel 10 drama Offspring, which returned with a healthy 931,000 viewers.

Former contest on The Voice Prinnie Stevens, herself a proud Tongan, has also declared her support for the movement, reposting Salote’s protest to her Facebook page.

“I can’t tell you how strongly I believe in this message,” she wrote, copying in footballers Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams and singer Jessica Mauboy.

“I have always despised the stereotypes that society put upon us as Tongans/Polynesian people.

“I encourage all my Polynesian friends to … post your own. Salote you have inspired me to get this message out!”

Jonah, Moses and “the Fobba Liscious Boys” in <i>Jonah from Tonga</i>. Picture: ABC TV

The protest movement follows comments made last week to news.com.au by SBS radio presenter Meliame Fifita, who slammed the program as racist and degrading to Tongans.

The president of the Uniting Church has also criticised the show as being “offensive to our Tongan brothers and sisters”.

“Tongans in the Uniting Church and the wider community are expressing hurt and anger at the negative and culturally insensitive stereotyping of their young people in the ABC TV series Jonah from Tonga,” Reverend Andrew Dutney said.

This sentiment was backed by David Palu, 20, a leader of the Tongan National conference, who said the program “devalues our Tongan culture”.

“It breaks my heart to see someone disrespect my culture in this way. I don’t want my mother or my uncle to see this show on television,” Mr Palu said.

An ABC spokesman defended the show last week, telling news.com.au that “Jonah from Tonga plays with stereotypes, but it’s doing so to make an observation about the narrow-minded attitudes expressed by some of its characters, including Jonah’s own.”

Jonah from Tonga screens at 9pm Wednesday on ABC1.

Do you think Jonah from Tonga has created a negative stereotype? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ.

Chris Lilley plays Tongan troublemaker Jonah Takalua in the ABC1 comedy <i>Jonah from Tonga</i>.

Originally published as Backlash over Chris Lilley’s Jonah from Tonga as protest movement gains momentum