'If someone is making fun of my family, I'm offended': Indigenous Today show host Brooke Boney slams Chris Lilley's new show ahead of its Netflix debut
- Brooke Boney says she can understand backlash towards Chris Lilley's new show
- Lunatics started streaming on Netflix on Friday but has had a controversial start
- Viewers slammed Lilley for his use of black face and brown face in characters
- Ms Boney said she would be offended if it was her family being mocked
Today Show entertainment presenter Brooke Boney says she's offended about his new show Lunatics.
The hotly anticipated 'Lunatics' started streaming on Netflix on Friday, and has been boosted by controversy over some of his characters, with viewers claiming he has used brown face in the show.
Ms Boney, who is Aboriginal, slammed the show as she discussed its release on Today.
The entertainment reporter said while 10-15 years ago, when Mr Lilley's characters first took over our screens, she found it hilarious.
'Then, of course, as people's views changed a little bit, so did the mood towards some of his characters,' she said.
'I think when it first came out, I did think it was hilarious.
'But my views of the world changed and you sort of think about it a bit more critically, and I thought "oh maybe there would be people who are offended by this".'
Ms Boney said when she thought about what it would be like if it was her family being mocked, she was able to empathise with people who were slamming Lilley's characters.
While Ms Boney said she loved Lilley's character Mr G, she did not condone his use of black face (right) and said she could empathise with those that were offended by his work
Lilley's new show, Lunatics, started streaming on Netflix on Friday - six years after his last show
'If someone was making fun of how my nan and pop speak or my cousins speak, then I probably would be offended. It would hurt my feelings,' she said.
While some of Lilley's characters appear to be designed as offensive, others have become Australian pop culture icons.
'You see characters like Mr G or Ja'mie, and they are hilarious,' Ms Boney said. 'I love it. I love [Mr G]. He's so good.'
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