Hospitality supremo Gorge Camorra defends ‘aggressive’ parody skit with women

Readers have had their say on a parody skit for a Geelong bar, which caused a stir for some who considered the behaviour offensive. WATCH THE VIDEO

Geelong’s cocktail supremo has caused a stir with one online commenter saying his parody skit has an “aggressive edge” toward women.

Owner of the 18th Amendment Bar and Manhattan Bar, Gorge Camorra, is seen in the short set-up online video with two women at a bar who are laughing.

He interjects with: “You’re freakin’ annoying, drink your drink.”

The video was posted online to enter a competition.

More than 300 people voted in our online poll, with 75 per cent saying the skit was not offensive to them.

Mr Camorra told the Geelong Advertiser the video was a parody.

“That’s my daughter and one of my staff in the video. It’s a parody and satire,” Mr Camorra said.

“It was a joke. If you go to my YouTube channel it says that it’s actually copying an already made video.

“Let’s not blow it out of proportion. I’ve got women in management roles. Half of my staff, probably more now, are women. Both my daughters (work with me).”

Staff member Miranda Williams has spoken out. Source: Facebook

Commenting online about the video, one woman said: “F-k that’s hilarious.”

Another woman said: “This isn’t funny. In fact, it’s a good way to discourage female patrons.”

Miranda Williams, one of the women in the video, said “we don’t find it offensive at all.”

“Men and women out there feel like it’s offensive but it’s not offensive,” Ms Williams said.

“It’s a parody, it’s a skit, it’s comedy. We actually created that all together.

“People need to relax and lighten up. We need to stop taking things so seriously in this world.

“When creators want to create something, and if that falls under comedy and it is a skit, a parody, then people are allowed to do that without being vilified.”

Screenshot of parody skit including Manhattan Bar owner Gorge Camorra. Picture: Instagram.

Responding to that woman, a male commented: “ttly (sic) agree with how off this is, didn’t want to comment to increase traction in Insta but had to say something. The aggressive edge towards women not cool and the idea you can’t laugh and be loud at a bar is ridiculous. Take it down please.”

Mr Camorra said his daughter filmed, produced and edited the video and it was “not done in a bad way.”

“It’s my own daughter (I am yelling at), and my daughter and other staff member are pretty strong, independent women that would not put up with (aggressive behaviour).”

The video is part of Mr Camorra’s Funny Bartender series that pokes fun at interactions bartenders have with customers.

“I am just trying to win a trip to America that’s all. I know within myself what I am like. I am not sexist.”

On YouTube in response to the video one commenter posted: “HAAAA!!! That’s my kind of bartender!!! I love this!!!”

Another wrote: “Love it!”

By lunchtime Thursday the video had more than 1200 views on the Instagram page of Mr Camorra’s “soon” to open Non Disclosure Bar, and 900 views on YouTube.

Originally published as Hospitality supremo Gorge Camorra defends ‘aggressive’ parody skit with women