Kath & Kim parody show forced to involve police after vile death threats: ‘Far-right snowflakes’
A drag parody show based on the iconic Australian sitcom Kath and Kim has been targeted with death threats by online trolls.
Fountain Lakes in lockdown: a drag parody is currently touring the east coast of Australia and writer and performer Thomas Jaspers has revealed that the production was forced to call the police after threatening comments were made online.
Thomas said the virtual hate came from “far-right snowflakes.”
“There have been a few outbursts of anger from far-right snowflakes who are very angry that men are wearing dresses,” Thomas said news.com.au.
He added that most of the troll comments were “stupid,” but that there were also some disturbing comments that threatened the safety of the cast.
“Generally speaking, it’s pretty much nonsense,” Thomas said.
“But there have also been some pretty serious comments that we have to take a little bit more seriously, where people have put the safety of the cast at risk.”
The writer also revealed that the production team had to call the police in an unnamed city on the tour.
Fountain Lakes in lockdown: a drag parody Playwright and actor Thomas Jaspers has revealed that the production was forced to call the police after some threatening comments from online trolls
He added that local authorities had been “wonderful” in dealing with the threats.
“Unfortunately, in one city we had to contact the local police, who did a fantastic job,” Thomas said.
‘[They] said they would be on site for the event to ensure that if they are actually mobilized, they are not allowed anywhere near the venue or the team.’
Thomas addressed the trolls directly, urging them not to attend the show.
“There have been some quite serious comments that we have had to take a bit more seriously, where people have put the safety of the cast at risk,” Thomas told news.com.au
“Unfortunately, in one town we had to contact the local police, who were great,” Thomas added. Pictured are the original Kath and Kim, Gina Riley (l) and Jane Turner (r)
“You don’t have to come. It really has nothing to do with you,” he said.
The show, which recently enjoyed a sold-out season in Melbourne, stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under finalist Art Simone and drag queen Leasa Mann, alongside actors Scott Brennan and Thomas Jaspers.
Art Simone, aka Jack Daye, finished second along with Karen From Finance and Scarlet Adams in the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under in 2021.
Set in the iconic Fountain Lakes, in the midst of the COVID lockdown, the parody follows Kim as she tries to become famous on TikTok, while Kath worries that her lover Kel has become an anti-vaxxer.
The show’s source material Kath and Kim, written and starred by Gina Riley and Jane Turner, aired on ABC for three seasons from 2002 to 2005.
The critically acclaimed sitcom, starring Magda Szubanski, Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn, poked fun at the banality of suburbia and went on to become one of Australia’s best-loved comedies.
The hit comedy also featured a host of big-name guest stars, including Kylie Minogue, Little Britain’s Matt Lucas, Eric Bana and cricket icon Shane Warne.
The acclaimed sitcom, which also starred Magda Szubanski, Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn, satirized the banality of suburbia and became one of Australia’s best-loved comedies