Let’s face it: New Zealand comedy hasn’t been funny since Flight of the Conchords. But it’s worse than that. Comedians have become government shills. For instance, in the past, comedians would think nothing of making fun of the prime minister and others in power. These days you will never hear a comedian making a cutting joke about Jacinda, but you’ll hear plenty of jokes about Luxon and anyone else they see as threat. Here’s a prime example.
Comedian Guy Williams says his now infamous interview with mayoral candidate Leo Molloy was funny, bizarre and the restaurateur’s response was “very angry”.
It’s well known that Guy Williams is a lefty with a major boner for anything Maori.
The host of the satirical programme New Zealand Today said he copped criticism for platforming Molloy, who, in a expletive-ridden interview, hit out at people he deemed “woke” and claimed Auckland had been hampered by a succession of “soft…” mayors.
[…] “I thought it was bizarre that this guy, who is known for being an absolute loose cannon, to put it nicely … was running for Auckland mayor.
“I thought it was very funny and thought it was going to end his political career, but I was criticised for platforming. That is when you give a voice, like how Donald Trump came up,” Williams said.
So he openly admits that the purpose of the interview was to be the one who put Molloy out of contention. Actually, more than that, to “end his political career”. That’s not comedy: it’s dirty politics.
“I understand that criticism. I think it is fair and I didn’t give his main rivals, Viv Beck and Efeso Collins, a fair chance to speak.
“But at the same time I thought it was interesting how a person responds to a comedy interview and in his case it was very angry.
“He asked me when I lost my virginity. It was bizarre,” said Williams.
When a lefty says “it was bizarre” it means they were outplayed. Oh, and also when they use the word “angry”. And if they say both it means they got really outplayed.
Molloy won the bout, forcing Williams to endorse his mayoralty bid on a video clip.
In other words he lost so badly that even the Herald had to admit it.