Australian comedians slammed over disrespectful joke about the Queen before she died

Australian comedic group The Chaser has been slammed for making a distasteful post about Queen Elizabeth II hours before she died at the age of 96.

The funnymen uploaded a photoshopped image of the Queen and made a joke about suicide prevention day R U OK? Day about 11pm on Thursday – after doctors had said she had been placed under medical supervision. 

The image was captioned: ‘R U OKAY day not going well at the palace’ and was uploaded about five hours before Buckingham Palace announced the monarch’s death.  

The comedy group poked fun at the Queen at the same time her health was deteriorating and she was being placed under medical supervision on Thursday 

The satirical post was still available on The Chaser’s Instagram and Facebook pages as of Friday morning – with followers erupting at the distasteful post.

‘I think this post should be removed, now,’ one person wrote. 

Another added: ‘Poor taste guys. Really poor taste. Not even a bit funny.’

Other Australians labelled the jibe insensitive and called for respect to be shown by the comedy group.

‘Would this be OK if it was your loved family member in this meme. I think it’s rude and disrespectful. I normally love your stuff but this is not even funny,’ one wrote.

Social media users have demanded the posts be taken down labelling them distasteful

‘Totally disrespectful, guys, take it down. Very poor taste’ and ‘Well this didn’t age well’ were also among the comments. 

Daily Mail Australia contacted The Chaser for comment. 

News of the Queen’s sudden death has sent shockwaves across the world with prime minister Anthony Albanese leading tributes in Australia.  

‘With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end,’ he said.

‘The government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.

‘Australian hearts go out to the people of the UK who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole.

Australian Prime Minister offered his condolences to the Royal Family, the British people, and all his own citizens who held Her Majesty in the highest regard

‘There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty’s own words: “Grief is the price we pay for love”.’

Mr Albanese, a republican who will likely begin the push to end the monarchy after a respectful time, said many Australians would feel a strong sense of loss when they awoke to the news on Friday. 

‘This is a loss we all feel, for few have known a world without Queen Elizabeth II. In her seven remarkable decades on the throne, Her Majesty was a rare and reassuring constant amidst rapid change,’ he said.

‘Through the noise and tumult of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm.’