Magda Szubanski slammed online after she weighs in on the Voice to Parliament and a photo of her doing blackface resurfaces

Magda Szubanski has once again been criticized for mocking racism in her support of The Voice, while having a personal history of appearing in blackface.

The 62-year-old comedian was criticized for her apparent double standard: criticizing what she saw as past racist treatment of indigenous people, and yet participating in what some would now consider a racist spectacle by appearing as a Black American stereotypical in a comedy. sketch.

The comedian said the Australian government had a long history of mistreatment of Indigenous people, citing the Howard government’s 2007 intervention which included revenue management and restrictions on alcohol in some Indigenous communities.

“I read the Constitution and the history of the amendments this weekend,” Ms. Szubanski said on X.

“Race has always been included. It’s always like that. The Australian government has always made fun of Aboriginal people. This is how Howard’s intervention was possible.

But opponents of The Voice were quick to call it out, sharing a photo of the star doing blackface while appearing as a black maid in a parody of Gone With the Wind aired in the sketch television Fast Forward, broadcast from 1989 to 1992.

Blackface, while once commonly used in show business, is now considered a taboo caricature of dark-skinned people.

“Who are you to comment on race?” Magda Szubankski, you’re joking, aren’t you,” one voter said no in response to her tweet.

“You don’t care about anyone but yourself. Threatening people to put them on a list! Intimidating non-voters and lying as usual.

Szubanski responded with a screenshot of the woman’s social media post, saying she had “apologized wholeheartedly” and learned from the incident.

“Okay, so I apologize wholeheartedly for doing blackface on previous occasions. You choose to ignore this,” Szubanski wrote.

“I too chose to learn. You also chose to ignore it. You had your chance.

‘I’m blocking you now because you’re not listening and you’re annoying. But I took a screenshot of your comments. And now, goodbye.’

Many Australians were quick to defend the Kath and Kim star.

Entertainment journalist Peter Ford shared the post, saying Australians bringing up Szubanski in blackface should “move on”.

“She’s right, it was 36 years ago, and she certainly wasn’t the only one who did it. Move on,” Ford wrote.

“Bringing up this 35 year old photo is such a boring throwback. Plus, everyone seems to think he’s the first to do it. The “gotcha” value disappeared years ago.

Appearing on ABC’s The Drum, Magda Szubanski spoke about the blackface she did early in her comedy career and explained that debating on Voice helped her have a “shift in consciousness”.

The Kath and Kim star wrote that she “sincerely apologizes” for blackface and learned from it before blocking the person who shared the photo (pictured)

“Magda, I’m indigenous, if anyone should be upset by this sketch, it’s me. I’m not. I heard you apologize several times. I accepted your apology. Don’t give these assholes your time. They’re not worth it,” one person commented.

“While I don’t agree with your stance on The Voice, I’m sorry that people keep throwing this comedy skit off as some sort of gotchya moment. You recognized the cultural importance. That’s all you can do,” another person wrote.

A third person added: “When you know better. You do better. Words that I live with in different times. And yes, a sincere apology matters.

A fourth person said: “I strongly disagree with you about The Voice, and I really don’t like the division you’re pushing, but your comedy sketch needs no apology. Certainly not. Actors cannot be held accountable by a standard created after their work has been broadcast.

Szubanski also explained on ABC’s The Drum on Monday evening that the referendum debate had helped her bring about a “shift in consciousness.”

“It’s an extremely vulnerable moment, and if we can just try to calm it down and be conscious of it, I also really hope that it’s a shift in consciousness.

“I know it was for me. A learning process, a change of consciousness. I mean, I’m someone who went from blackface in the 1990s to now an extremely different perspective.

“Surely it is the hope we all have that people like me, who come from a position of ignorance, can learn.”

Szubanski joined a host of Australian celebrities who have announced they will vote yes in the October 14 referendum for Indigenous voice in Parliament.

Although celebrities such as Magda are making the case for yes, support for the yes campaign has fallen to its lowest level yet, according to a new poll.

Just over a third of Australians – 36 per cent – say they will vote yes to Voice to Parliament, according to the Newspoll survey of 1,239 voters conducted for The Australian.

This is a drop of two points in the last three weeks – the lowest level ever recorded for the beleaguered Yes campaign.

At the same time, opposition to the historic referendum increased slightly to 56 percent with less than three weeks until polling day.

The no movement spans most age groups and demographics, but most involves women and younger voters who were previously The Voice’s strongest supporters.