Feminist comic takes on 'douche bombers' at Sydney Comedy Festival

April 26, 2015
Issue 
Kirsty Mac
Kirsty Mac's 'Douche Bomb' can be seen at the Sydney Comedy Festival on April 29 and May 1.

Last year, self-described "pick-up artist" and committed misogynist Julien Blanc arrived in Australia for a planned series of seminars on how to harass women. In response, a grassroots feminist network organised protests that forced several venues to cancel Blanc's seminars and, eventually, prompted the Australian government to cancel Blanc's visa.

One of the organisers of the successful protest in Melbourne was stand-up comic Kirsty Mac, and the experience forms part of the basis for her show at this year's Sydney Comedy Festival, Douche Bombs.

Publicity for the show states: "Douche Bombers have had a long run of getting away with WTF behaviour. Well, not anymore! There’s a new kid in town and they go by the name of Everybodyon Social Media.

"We have witnessed a big year of global social media ‘shirt-fronts’. It’s brought up a lot of important questions. Like Redfoo has 20/20 vision but why does he look like an optically challenged Muppet that needs a good scrub? Was Julien Blanc like, heaps dropped hard on the head? And more importantly, does Tony Abbott need a new iron?

"So grab an oar, as we traverse the online world on one massive party boat rowing courageously down the river of revolution. Social media has given the steering power back to the people and we are not about to STFU any time soon."

You can catch Douche Bombs at the Sydney Comedy Festival at the Factory on Wed April 29, 8:15pm and Fri May 1, 8:15pm. Visit Sydney Comedy Festival for more details and tickets.

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