Jewish Comic Offends Abo's in Live Show

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/austen-tayshus-upsets-crowd-in-small-town-territory-gig/news-story/1b98abcb7d95949cd1816fc250580d32

AN unlikely feud has broken out between 80s comedy identity Austen Tayshus and Tennant Creek's Memorial Club.

Club manager John Baker said Austen Tayshus — most famous for his spoken word pun-filled piece Australiana — bombed on stage last week.

Mr Baker said some "racial comments" by Austen Tayshus didn't go down well with the Thursday night crowd, leading the comedian to make an early exit. "He scarpered, thank Christ, before someone could bash him," he said.

But Austen Tayshus rejected suggestions of racism in the show which he said relied heavily on irony.

"I'm an intellectual. My shows are provocative and challenging but they're certainly not racist and if they're interpreted that way, that's not my problem," he said.

When asked why punters at the Tennant Creek show misinterpreted his comedy as racist, Austen Tayshus was blunt. "Because a lot of people are thick," he said. The comedian said he struggled to hold the attention of a crowd more interested in the footy on the big screen.

"Because a lot of people are thick," he said. The comedian said he struggled to hold the attention of a crowd more interested in the footy on the big screen.

Austen Tayshus is the stage name of Jewish Australian comedian Alexander Jacob Gutman. He is best known for the 1983 comedy single "Australiana", a spoken word piece filled with Australian puns; it is Australia's best-selling single ever.

Austen Tayshus: Australiana

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