Rowan Dean: Chris Lilley Netflix removal over ‘racism’ is a joke
Netflix’s decision to rob Australian audiences of one of our greatest comedy icons, Jonah Takalua, is nothing more than a misguided, skin-deep stab at political correctness, writes Rowan Dean.
Opinion
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For a generation of Aussie schoolkids there was no cooler role model.
The ultimate rebel, the cheeky, larrikin rabblerouser with a heart of gold.
And a Pacific Islander to boot! Awesome!
Jonah Takalua was the greatest invention of one of Australia’s greatest comedic talents, Chris Lilley.
Along with posh Ja’mie “I didn’t ask to be born hot” King, they were the two undoubted stars of Summer Heights High, one of our finest comedy shows.
Indeed, if Australia had a Comedy Hall of Fame (and why don’t we?) they’d have to build a bronze statue of both Jonah and Ja’mie, such was their cultural significance around 2008-10.
Except now instead of building a statue to Jonah, they’ve torn him down.
Disgracefully, Lilley’s shows have been pulled from Netflix.
Why? Because to play Jonah, Lilley darkened his own skin tones with make-up.
In the era of idiocy that we now live in, this is called ‘racism’.
And for the same moronic reasons, the BBC have pulled Little Britain.
Summer Heights High was a massive hit (back when the ABC bothered to make shows people wanted to watch), won a 2008 Logie and sold around the world.
The 3-disc DVD was the best present a teenager could get; the show defined their era.
Much as Hoges and ‘Strop’ made the larrikin from the western suburbs a cultural icon in the 70s, Lilley brought the disparate elements of modern suburban Australian life all together into one glorious comedic melting pot.
And in doing so, he gave our kids a fresh batch of heroes of their own.
Jonah was the ultimate naughty kid, as well as the coolest.
And, cunningly, the character subverted head-on the issue of racism.
He had his own strong moral code, and strove with genuine humour to behave better. “Respect all teachers!”, Jonah proudly said. A worthy role model for all our kids.
“They don’t even know that I’m just trying to make things more fun, more interreactive.”
And he did. Shame on those who now condemn him.
They are cultural barbarians, vandalising our past.
Rowan Dean is the host of Outsiders on Sky News Australia. The Death of the Aussie Larrikin? premieres on Sky on Tuesday, June 16, at 8pm.