Fans of Clementine Ford have been left angered after a prank by comedy group The Inspired Unemployed at a feminist talk in Sydney went disastrously wrong.
A large group of mostly women had attended the free event on Wednesday, which featured a panel including Ford, and fellow feminist writers Antoinette Lattouf and Yumi Stynes.
But the unsuspecting audience, who were set to hear a serious chat on marriage and sex, became upset after comedian Jack Steele turned up as a ‘special guest’.
Known as one half of The Inspired Unemployed with Matt Ford, Steele made a series of off-colour remarks which angered the audience.
At one point, he was heard to say ‘chicks dig consent’ and ‘I really like girl writers’.
Fans of Clementine Ford (pictured) have been left angered after a prank by comedy group The Inspired Unemployed at a feminist talk in Sydney went disastrously wrong
Introduced as a special guest offering his ‘perspective’ as a young male on the panel topics, Steele’s remarks reportedly left some of the audience in tears.
According to Yahoo Lifestyle, Steele’s antics were being filmed as part of The Inspired Unemployeds TV show, (Impractical) Jokers.
The 30-year-old funnyman was reportedly being ‘fed’ his provocative comments via an earpiece as part of the new show.
The unsuspecting audience, who were set to hear a serious chat on marriage and sex, became upset after comedian Jack Steele turned up as a ‘special guest’ (Pictured: Ford and Steele)
The report claims many audience members left the event before it was scheduled to finish.
Meanwhile, Ford and her co-panellists stayed on for an extra hour to continue with the talk after Steele left the event.
The prank sparked backlash from Ford’s fans, who took to her Instagram to express their rage over being duped as part of a comedy show.
The prank sparked backlash from Ford’s fans, who took to her Instagram to express their rage over being duped as part of a comedy show
‘Super weird move on this one, what on earth were you thinking?’ one fan messaged Ford.
‘Just wasted an hour of my time which I’ll never get back,’ another woman posted.
‘And the poor woman sitting behind me was crying. I’ll be ok but this show probably should have come with a trigger warning. So many upset women tonight.’
Another eyewitness slammed the feminist for her ‘lack of consent’, and branded the panel unethical for not letting the audience in on the prank.
TikTok star Definitely Maybelline slammed the event on social media
She messaged Ford: ‘Unfortunately any opportunity for insightful discourse was overshadowed by the painfully unfunny man who made a complete mockery of what could have been a really interesting panel.’
‘Your voice has been a beacon of inspiration for many, including myself,’ added another disgruntled fan.
‘So, to witness your participation in a prank show, where the very essence of feminism seemed to be twisted and exploited for laughs, was disheartening, to say the least.
Some fans stood behind Ford and the other panellists
They continued: ‘The rhetoric of “it’s just a joke” to minimise women has long been used to excuse reprehensible behavior, and to see it perpetuated on a your platform, even if it was a bit, that you lent your credibility to is profoundly disappointing.’
Meanwhile, one was prepared to defend Ford and the other panellists over their involvement in the stunt.
‘If you didn’t like the joke then tell the person who made it,’ they posted on Ford’s Instagram.
‘These women have dedicated their adult lives to supporting community and the mental health of others.’
Meanwhile, News.com reported Steele apologised to the audience just before leaving the event.
He said: ‘I’m very sorry guys. I look like a f***wit and you all hate me … from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted Clementine Ford, Antoinette Lattouf and Yumi Stynes for comment.
