I love a good laugh. Those who know me well know that I appreciate comedy just as much as anyone else. Over the years, I’ve even dabbled in stand-up myself, performing quirky characters like ‘Scary Spice’ and a cheeky ‘Swami’ in my duo, the Swami Bruddahs.
But while I enjoy humour, I also believe that comedy — like all storytelling — carries power. The jokes we tell and the ones we laugh at shape how we see each other and how we are seen. They reflect the culture we live in and the values we hold.
This is why I was intrigued when I came across Australian comedian Isaac Butterfield and his podcast episode titled “I’m Being Cancelled For This Joke”. In the episode, Butterfield defends making jokes based on harmful stereotypes about Aboriginal people, arguing that if the audience laughs, it means they know the stereotypes aren’t real. His position is that it’s all just absurd humour, not harmful.
But as I often say in my work with Allies — intent is not the measure of harm. What matters is impact.
Jokes Don’t Exist in a Vacuum
Butterfield argues that his jokes are “not real,” but the truth is, humour rarely exists outside of cultural context. Comedy often reflects and reinforces the ideas that are already alive in our society. Even if the comedian doesn’t believe the stereotype, repeating it as a punchline still helps keep that idea circulating.
It assumes that everyone in the audience understands the joke as satire. But audiences aren’t all the same. Some people may laugh because they recognise the stereotype as wrong. Others may laugh because the joke confirms what they already believe.
Who Is the Joke Really About?
Butterfield claims to be an “equal opportunity offender,” suggesting that he targets everyone, not just one group. But jokes about those who are already marginalised don’t hit the same as jokes about those in positions of power. When humour “punches down” instead of challenging power structures, it risks becoming part of the problem instead of part of the critique.
Jokes about Aboriginal people being backward, lazy, or inferior aren’t just words. They reinforce stereotypes that feed real-world discrimination — in workplaces, schools, healthcare, and everyday life. Whether or not the comedian believes these stereotypes, their audience may still absorb and repeat them.
Context and Power Dynamics Matter
As someone with a large platform, Butterfield has significant influence. Jokes about marginalised groups told from a place of privilege carry a different weight. Even if there’s no intention to harm, the result can be the same: further exclusion, humiliation, and the normalisation of racism.
Good comedy challenges harmful ideas. It punches up, not down. It invites us to reflect on injustice, not reinforce it.
Final Thought: Why This Matters for Allyship
At Evolve Communities, we talk often about the difference between intent and impact. Many harmful policies, like the forced removals of the Stolen Generations, were carried out under the banner of “good intentions.” But good intentions did not prevent devastating outcomes.
The same is true here. Laughing along or staying silent when jokes perpetuate harmful stereotypes is not neutral. Allyship asks more of us. It calls on us to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and know when to speak up — even if we feel uncomfortable.
Because sometimes, a joke isn’t just a joke. And we all have a choice about whether we laugh along, or choose to stand alongside.
Want to learn more about impact over intent and how to be an effective Ally?
Join us for our upcoming National Reconciliation Week webinar where we explore this year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, and share practical tools for meaningful Allyship.
About the Author
Aunty Munya Andrews is an Aboriginal Elder from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, a lawyer, cultural educator, and award-winning author. As Co-Director of Evolve Communities, she is passionate about sharing First Nations knowledge and supporting non-Indigenous Allies to walk alongside with respect, care, and cultural humility.
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