Jump to content

friendlyjordies

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aubscool2 (talk | contribs) at 01:46, 13 July 2021 (fixed spelling mistake). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jordan Shanks
Personal information
Born
Jordan Shanks Markovina

(1989-08-19) 19 August 1989 (age 34)[citation needed]
Australia
EducationUniversity of New South Wales Newtown High School of the Performing Arts[1]
Occupation(s)YouTuber, comedian
YouTube information
Also known asFriendlyjordies
Channel
Years active2013–present
Genre(s)Comedy, political commentary, Australian culture
Subscribers500,000+ (July 2021)[2]
Total views135 million (July 2021)[citation needed][2]
100,000 subscribers
Last updated: 11 July 2021

Jordan Shanks-Markovina,[3] known online as friendlyjordies, is an Australian political commentator, comedian and YouTuber. His content often discusses contemporary Australian political issues, involving self-described "lowbrow humour". Shanks popularised viral Twitter hashtags targeting Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian[4] and political commentator Joe Hildebrand. Shanks' channel, created in late 2013, has more than half a million subscribers.[5] He has interviewed several politicians including Jodi McKay, Tanya Plibersek, Kristina Keneally, Helen Dalton, Bill Shorten, and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.[6]

Personal life

Shanks was born in Australia and lives in Sydney. He graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in 2007, achieving a band 6 distinction for drama, modern history, ancient history and geography.[7] Shanks later studied International Studies[8] at the University of New South Wales.[9][self-published source] Prior to becoming a YouTuber, Shanks was a model, appearing in magazines and advertisements throughout Australia and Southeast Asia.[10][11][self-published source]

YouTube career

Early in his YouTube career, Shanks made paid videos for the Australian Council of Trade Unions, GetUp!, and Greenpeace, after approaching them and offering to promote their cause.[12] In 2016, he campaigned against the Sydney lockout laws.[12] In 2020, he produced reviews of Australian cask wine.[13][14] Later that year, the Daily Telegraph journalist Joe Hildebrand made a complaint to NSW police accusing Shanks of stalking and harassment. The police laid no charges.[15]

In 2019, Shanks published a video covering businessman Clive Palmer who was running in the 2019 Australian federal election. There were existing allegations of criminal activity in regards to liquidation of Palmer's company Queensland Nickel[16] and alleged failure to pay the company's workers,[17][18] which Shanks covered, alongside satirising Palmer's behaviour and appearance. In response, Palmer threatened a defamation lawsuit, demanding A$500,000 and that Shanks cease making public statements about him.[19] Shanks said he would not "capitulate" and released merchandise containing the statements in question.[19] The episode gained global attention, with media and commentators noting that Palmer appeared to have created a Streisand effect.[18][20] Other commentators said that Palmer's legal threat was substantially similar to a SLAPP suit and that such threats had a 'chilling effect' on public interest reporting.[21]

Environmental activism

In 2019 and 2020, Shanks released multiple videos alleging that the NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian was one of the main people responsible for increasing the risk of bushfires and the destruction of the koala population in Australia. He created and popularised the Twitter hashtag #koalakiller, in reference to Berejiklian.[22] On 10 June 2020, Shanks released an interview with New South Wales Opposition Leader Jodi McKay, discussing topics including the state and federal governments' response to the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, including widespread deaths of animals. Shanks and McKay were criticised[by whom?] for regarding Gladys Berejiklian as responsible for the death of koalas,[23][failed verification] with Deputy Premier of New South Wales John Barilaro describing the comments as "desperate".[citation needed]

Lawsuit by John Barilaro and producer arrest

In a political commentary video uploaded by him on 29 June 2020, Shanks included an impersonation of Barilaro with an exaggerated Italian accent, which Barilaro later described as being "very offensive" and "full of racist undertones".[24] In response, commentators have noted Shanks' partially Southern European heritage.[citation needed] Shanks also filmed a subsequent video inside an Airbnb rental property owned by Barilaro,[25][26] accusing him of corruption and environmental vandalism.[6] In May 2021 Shanks published on his social media a letter sent by Barilaro in December, with a threat to sue for defamation if his demands were not met. In response, Shanks confronted Barilaro dressed as the character Luigi at a National Party function.[27][28] Barilaro lodged defamation proceedings against Shanks on 27 May 2021.[29] On 8th of July Shanks' legal team responded by filing 'truth defence', supported by 'honest opinion' defence for a subset of claims.[30]

In June 2021 Shanks' producer Kristo Langker was arrested by plain clothed NSW police officers from the Fixated Persons Unit and charged with two counts of "stalking and intimidating" Barilaro after Langker had approached Barilaro at a National Party function and on another occasion.[31][32] Langker's lawyer Mark Davis contested the police's version of the event and called the timing of the arrest, so soon after the defamation lawsuit has commenced, alarming. He also criticised use of the Fixated Persons Unit, which is a counter-terrorism unit set up to prevent lone attacks in the wake of the Lindt Cafe siege.[31]

Collaboration with former PM Kevin Rudd

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is an admirer of Shanks, saying "He's a funny bloke and pretty sharp too. He's also got an authenticity about him, and he’s genuinely trying to keep Australians informed. In a country like Australia, where the media is so concentrated in the hands of Uncle Rupert [Murdoch], there's always a need for new media voices – especially voices that are young and progressive. Time will tell how effective he will be, but he is certainly attuned to the sentiments of many Australians."[33] Rudd has also filmed comedic political commentary videos with Shanks.[34]

References

  1. ^ "Distinguished Achievers List - 2007 HSC". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "About friendlyjordies". YouTube.
  3. ^ "Legal Fund". Friendlyjordies. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  4. ^ "YouTuber Friendlyjordies lashed for 'racist' depiction of Gladys Berejiklian". NewsComAu. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Comedian asks for NSW Deputy Premier's parliamentary privilege to be waived in defamation case". news.com.au. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hunter, Lucy Cormack, Fergus (19 September 2020). "How to solve a problem like friendlyjordies? Politicians debate new-age commentator". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ NSW, Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards. "Distinguished Achievers List - 2007 HSC - Serrao, Sasha to Shanks-Markovina, Jordan – Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW". www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ University of New South Wales has an online award verification service. To confirm Jordan's degree and conferral date, enter his first and last names and click on the search button.
  9. ^ Shanks, Jordan (2 July 2020). "FRIENDLYJORDIES IS CANCELLED". YouTube. Retrieved 14 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Jordan Shanks". www.modelmayhem.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Life as a Male Model - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b Stefano, Mark Di (6 April 2016). "This Viral YouTube Star Has Been Employed For Political Advertising". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  13. ^ Perrie, Stewart. "Aussie YouTuber Reviews The Best Goonsacks In The Country". LADBible. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  14. ^ Lowther, Amber. "Some Bloke Just Reviewed The Best Goon Sacks In Australia". Triple M. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  15. ^ Morton, Rick (19 June 2021). "The police, the YouTube star and the Labor Party". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  16. ^ Branco, Jorge (23 January 2018). "Clive Palmer's meetings with himself to approve millions in Queensland Nickel payments". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  17. ^ Stevenson, Ashleigh (25 May 2018). "Clive Palmer's assets frozen by Supreme Court over Queensland Nickel collapse". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Clive Palmer: Australia ex-MP threatens YouTuber over 'dense Humpty' video". BBC News. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  19. ^ a b Gilbert, Ben. "An Australian billionaire and politician is demanding $500,000 from a YouTube creator and threatening to sue for calling him a 'dense Humpty Dumpty'". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  20. ^ West, Michael (4 October 2019). "The Streisand Effect - Clive Palmer forgot about that". Michael West. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  21. ^ Amber, Schultz (2 October 2019). "Clive Palmer's latest defamation threat is the new norm for online content". Crikey. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  22. ^ Yun, Jessica (27 November 2019). "Rich-lister CEO won't stop asking the NSW Premier this one question". au.finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  23. ^ "'What were you thinking?': Ben Fordham calls out 'appalling' swipe at Gladys Berejiklian". 2GB. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  24. ^ "YouTuber Friendlyjordies lashed for 'racist' depiction of Gladys Berejiklian". NewsComAu. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  25. ^ "bruz". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  26. ^ "YouTuber Friendlyjordies brags of sex acts in NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro's holiday house". news.com.au. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  27. ^ "John Barilaro threatens legal action against YouTuber". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Deputy Premier threatens to sue comedian". www.theaustralian.com.au. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  29. ^ Mitchell, Georgina (28 May 2021). "John Barilaro sues YouTube comedian Friendlyjordies for defamation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  30. ^ McGowan, Michael; Knaus, Christopher (8 July 2021). "Friendlyjordies files truth defence in defamation case against John Barilaro". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  31. ^ a b Knaus, Christopher (13 June 2021). "Friendlyjordies producer charged with stalking John Barilaro". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  32. ^ Morton, Rick (19 June 2021). "The police, the YouTube star and the Labor Party". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  33. ^ Street, Andrew P. (21 September 2020). "Jordan Shanks' Friendly Game". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  34. ^ Koziol, Michael (31 October 2020). "Rudd backs FriendlyJordies as serious 'broadcaster' despite controversial acts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Friendlyjordies&oldid=1033334451"