Aussie comedian slammed over joke comparing vaccine to rape
Comedy is meant to push boundaries, make you think, and even make you a little uncomfortable.
But one Aussie comedian has been accused of getting that mix woefully wrong with a joke about the country's contentious Covid-19 vaccine mandates, comparing it to sexual abuse.
Nikki Osborne posted a meme on her social media accounts of convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein alongside actress Lindsay Lohan.
The former head of Miramax Films and The Weinstein Company exploited his influential position to commit criminal sexual acts including rape, for which he was recently sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Across the image was the text: "The original No Jab, No Job".
The joke was met with a decidedly mixed reaction, with many people criticising the post due to the sensitive subject matter.
"This ain't it," commented fellow comedian and TV presenter Tanya Hennessy.
While some directed their anger at Weinstein, others strongly disagreed with the moral equivalency suggested by the joke.
"Love to compare a vaccine that saves lives to sexual assault," one person commented.
"Sorry how is this funny?" asked another.
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"Yeah sexual assault is definitely something to joke about," another user mocked.
"Rape isn't a joke though," one commenter simply replied.
Nurse loses challenge to vaccine mandate
Covid vaccine mandates for certain industries have seen pockets of pushback from some workers.
An earlier requirement for tradies to be vaccinated on-site ended in ugly protests in Melbourne's CBD last month.
Meanwhile a nurse at a northern NSW hospital has had her challenge to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for the state's health workers dismissed.
Danielle Davis, who's employed at Ballina hospital's rehabilitation ward, sought a review in the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of the order and a letter telling her she could not continue working unless she had one vaccination by September 30 and the second by November 30.
Her application for a stay on the minister's public health order and Northern NSW Local Health District's letter was rejected earlier.
In seeking a review she listed grounds including the rules of natural justice being breached, an error in law and there being no evidence or other material to justify the vaccination decision.
In its decision released on Monday, the tribunal pointed out Ms Davis's challenge to the public health order's legal validity had already been determined by the Supreme Court in its findings against Sydney construction worker Al-Munir Kassam, Byron Bay aged care worker Natasha Henry and others.
with AAP
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