When comedians step off a plane and into a new country, they often lean on local news, social commentary, and trending public discourse to tailor their material. But when these influences are misunderstood, or worse, misused, it can result in comedy that’s not only unfunny, but harmful.

American comedian Andrew Schulz has toured Australia multiple times and has included jokes at First Nations' expense. Schulz is known for his crowd-work and his extreme knowledge of people and cultures, often being able to pinpoint a crowd member's origin based on a few questions in moments he has previously called "Let me show my racism".

While some of the recognitions made by Shulz may be considered stereotypically racist, others are also incredibly nuanced. 

In his first tour of Australia, it was his nuanced style that he used to create commentary about First Nations people in a way that was neither racist nor overly defined, but rather comedic, the joke in fact being about the attitudes of non-Indigenous people.

His second tour, unfortunately, was not so well researched, with Schulz opting to use stereotypical racism to create simple jokes that were offensive and truly missed the mark.

Currently, comedian Mark Normand is touring Australia, and he has also included jokes in his set that aim to highlight Aboriginal culture. Not in a sharp, satirical way that challenges power or explores cultural nuance, but in a lazy, stereotypical way that mimics the worst takes from online comment sections.

Doing its rounds on social media is Normand’s bit on land acknowledgements, the video of which includes a token image of a First Nations man doing a Welcome to Country. 

Normand states (not exact words), "I keep hearing these land acknowledgements, god, you must be sick of that shit. Everywhere I go, this brown dude is going", from here Normand makes up some words along the lines of 'ooga booga' and does a little dance.

Normand obviously didn’t dig into their complexity or significance, as he mistook a land acknowledgement for a Welcome to Country. I guess the joke's on him, as it exposes his ignorance and laziness as a comic after a cheap laugh.

The other note is that this isn't just about “offence” or being “too sensitive.” It’s about craft. Comedy can, and should, punch up. It can explore race, power, and culture in ways that are honest, insightful, and even confronting. But when comedians simply regurgitate the same tired stereotypes they read in YouTube comments, overheard in a pub, or see on a news.com.au poll, they’re not doing satire, they’re doing shortcuts.

Even worse, these jokes prop up the racist opinions they take from, normalising their existence, and giving many racists a platform to comment on once the videos hit social media. 

It's a vicious cycle.

What’s happening here is a clear example of how dominant narratives influence art.

The public debate around Indigenous rights, Voice to Parliament, land acknowledgements, and reparations has become increasingly polarised. The “anti-woke” backlash and sensationalist media coverage offer a buffet of surface-level talking points for comedians unfamiliar with the country's history or cultural sensitivities.

Even Xhosa/Swiss-German comedian Trevor Noah has taken the bait in the past.

The reality is, it's easy to make a joke that punches down when you don’t understand the weight of what you’re mocking. It’s harder but far more rewarding to understand a topic deeply enough to critique it meaningfully.

There are countless Aboriginal comedians doing just that. They’re unpacking colonisation, racism, intergenerational trauma, and modern identity with sharp wit and deep awareness. The difference is, they know the stakes.

Australian comedian Daniel Muggleton has been able to create bits that are played out with nuance and respect. 

This isn't to say that visiting comedians don’t need to avoid these topics altogether, but they do need to take responsibility. If you're going to comment on Aboriginal issues, understand the country you're in. Acknowledge that you’re performing on stolen land. Recognise that you're part of a culture that has historically ignored, silenced, or ridiculed First Nations people. And ask yourself: is the joke adding to the conversation, or just echoing the noise?