Call for Labor figures to cut ties with YouTuber friendlyjordies

Labor has been challenged over its stance on sexism after comedian Friendlyjordies’ YouTube attacks on women.

A foul-mouthed internet comedian who has made videos with a host of senior Labor figures including Kevin Rudd, Tanya Plibersek, Kristina Keneally, and Bill Shorten has been caught out delivering vile sexist tirades against high profile Australian women and defending former state opposition leader Luke Foley against claims he sexually harassed an ABC reporter in 2018.

The revelations come as Jordan Shanks, who goes by the internet handle Friendlyjordies and is currently being sued by NSW deputy premier John Barilaro for defamation, has had his Facebook page taken down for numerous terms of service violations.

In one video made in February, 2020, Shanks said that if Gladys Berejiklian were “in the animal kingdom she would be a penis snake.”

Jordan Shanks chats with the-then NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay. Picture: YouTube

In another, produced in July 2020, Shanks made derogatory remarks about TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson’s looks, and called former Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington “a cockroach”.

In a third video, produced in August 2020 and entitled simply “bag lady”, Shanks launched a full-on attack on South Australian Liberal Nicolle Flint, calling her “a whiny little bitch”.

And in a fourth, Shanks appeared to defend Luke Foley after he resigned as Labor leader in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he denied.

The videos are a far cry from the videos Shanks has made with the co-operation of a number of Labor figures who have seemed more than eager to speak to his 505,000 YouTube subscribers.

In one video filmed in August 2020, Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek invited Shanks into her childhood home where her mother served the pair coffee and pastries, with Ms Plibersek laughing, “I can’t take you anywhere!” when he accidentally snapped the handle off his cup.

The previous month, Kristina Keneally invited Shanks to do an interview in what appears to be an official briefing room at Sydney’s commonwealth parliamentary offices.

Jordan Shanks AKA Friendlyjordies. Picture: Facebook

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Kristina Keneally, was also interviewed by FriendlyJordies. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

As well as producing videos with prominent Labor figures, Shanks has also reportedly co-ordinated efforts to set up Facebook community groups as fronts for pro-Labor and anti-News Corp messaging.

In a variety of groups a Friendlyjordies administration account has been seen giving advice like “Make memes along the line of: ‘If Morrison wins the next election, Craig Kelly will become health minister and vaccines will be banned. Do you want to take that risk?’”

Ms Flint, who announced that she would retire from politics at the next election due to her atrocious treatment during the 2019 campaign which saw her office egged and a man cautioned by police for stalking, said “Earlier this year I called on the Leader of the Labor Party, Mr Albanese, and his colleagues, to act on dangerous, derogatory, aggressive and sexist behaviour directed towards women in politics.

“To his credit he said he would do so when made aware of such behaviour.

“I therefore call on Mr Albanese, and his Labor colleagues, to cut all ties with Jordan Shanks, and all social media and materials associated with him.

“Mr Shanks’ comments about women, including me, are completely unacceptable and have no place in our political landscape.”