Stan TV series inspires Patriot Blue
A new series is the inspiration for the name of the right-wing group that verbally attacked Sam Dastyari.
A new television series is the inspiration for the name of the right-wing group Patriot Blue, which launched a racist verbal attack on Labor senator Sam Dastyari last night.
Six-part series Romper Stomper is based on the Russell Crowe film of the same name, the 1992 Australian movie about racist skinheads.
Set in the present day, the new Romper Stomper is one of the most recent additions to streaming service Stan’s Originals. It contains a fictional far right, anti-Muslim group.
In an interview with CNN two months ago, Patriot Blue’s founder Neil Erikson said appropriating the name would help him recruit new followers. Erikson was among the men to approach Dastyari.
“People who watch that show will look for something, so they’ll google ‘Patriot Blue’ and there we will be,” said Erikson, who has bought two “Patriot Blue” domain names.
“The youth follow popular culture so if there’s a show that can symbolise some sort of counterculture, whether it’s skinheads or patriots, they’ll jump on board.”
The real-life Patriot Blue group has been thrust into the spotlight following the incident in a Melbourne pub. It has been condemned by the Prime Minister and the opposition leader.
Stan is jointly operated by Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Co. The Australian is seeking comment from Stan. Screen Australia and Film Victoria co-funded the series and DCD Rights is the international distributor.
The men heckled the Iranian-born senator at a Melbourne pub with “You terrorist. You little monkey” and demanded to know if he was a Muslim.
In the November 11, 1992 episode of The Movie Show, film critics Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton were divided over the controversial release of the film.
Stratton refused to rate the movie, expressing concern about its depiction of race-based violence in Melbourne’s suburbs.
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