Why I now regret casting Alex Williamson in my Aussie zombie comedy film.
Respect Women. Believe Women.
I’m calling him out. Australian Comedian Alex ‘Shooter’ Williamson’s behaviour towards women is not acceptable. I would like to speak up and say that I do not support him. I speak in the capacity that I once employed him on the 2015 zombie comedy feature film, Me and My Mates vs the Zombie Apocalypse.
I recruited Alex to the film in 2013 to play the lead character, which we shot in early 2014. So my professional relationship with him is from a number of years ago. Many of my current colleagues were intimately involved in the production of the film, and so it matters to me to speak out, as a sign of respect for them, their hard work and commitment to the original vision of the film.
As the producer, I accept I have plenty to answer for, in styling a film that was built upon his comedy. I genuinely believed we set out to produce a film that targeted the bogan Aussie and lovers of zombie comedies, and for the most part, we succeeded in doing that. While the film had numerous production problems, received mixed reviews, and struggled to recoup its costs, a loyal and dedicated cult-following was built.
During a recent Q&A event with the writer & director, that occurred after a 5 year anniversary screening of the film, it was agreed that many jokes that were attempted in the film, would likely not be written today. Things have changed, idealistically for the better.
Alex Williamson has had pretty bad week.
And it’s all of his own making.
For anyone not familiar with the story, I’d suggest you look up Musician and Tiktoker PeachPRC. Earlier last week she called out Alex for his toxic & predatory behaviour towards women, particularly young women. And his response on instagram was… a nightmare. Publications and news outlets suggested his response was mostly unpublishable. And he continued to double down as his adversaries and fans joined in the conversation.
His management dropped him. So did both the Sydney and Perth Comedy Festivals. The media is destroying him, bringing up previous, sometimes violent infractions. And now his social media is attempting some sort of damage control, insisting he’ll decide when he is cancelled and denying any allegations made against him.
Comedy is subjective.
The way I see it, Alex’s comedy hasn’t really changed in ten years. He’s still telling the same jokes, just in different ways, on new platforms.
British comedian Ricky Gervais speaks often about the right to be offended about a joke. He said, “I think being a provocateur isn’t necessarily setting out to cause offence because offence by definition is subjective — I don’t think you can say a joke is offensive.”
I honestly believe that Alex thinks this idea is what gives him a pass to say or do whatever he likes, whenever he feels it. He even has recently said in his defence, “I’m a comedian, its my job.”
His online presence is built on finding something offensive to say and turn it into a joke, in exchange for likes, comments and views. Comedians do often try and hold a mirror up to society and perform it back to an audience. Alex, in my opinion, has too often blurred the line between his performance and his reality. And the reality is, there are consequences for things we say, even if it is just a joke.
One of the biggest shocks I discovered when first meeting Alex was his character ‘The Loosest Aussie’ wasn’t too far off from his every day persona. It definitely was more exaggerated on stage or in videos, at least it was back when I worked with him, but I believed for quite some time, there was a distinct line between the character Alex, and the person. I think that line has been blurred now more than ever.
Working with Alex
One of the reasons I’ve never felt compelled to openly and publicly say or write about any of this, is because I have a lot of respect for the industry I work in, and for my desire to be part of it. There is nothing professional about publicly bad mouthing people you work or have worked with. And this is, in itself, a big part of the problem — a problem that has left many victims keeping quiet about their abuse.
I believe the decision for his management to drop him was correct. But I also understand why they kept him on as long as they did. Alex has an loyal audience. He has die-hard fans. He puts people into seats. He makes money.
His ability to draw an audience within our target audience, was behind one of the key factors I looked to cast him in our film. But this is why many problematic men continue to have a platform.
Alex’s time on the project initially started well. Despite the production having financial teething problems, he appeared committed and enthusiastic towards the film. But his drug addictions and wild off-set behaviour seemed to cultivate an evolving environment and culture, that I felt, as Producer, I lost control of very quickly.
My greater concerns came from stories — the ones happening off set, outside of work hours, back at the hotel complex. It’s not my place, or it wouldn’t be fair of me to articulate them here, as they did not occur in front of me. However it is very possible, from what was shared with me, that these stories included some form of abusive behaviour, possibly by and to persons in my employ.
Even the inclination that this type of behaviour went unchecked, haunts me. I wish at the time I had responded better to hearing these stories. And if in the future, anyone involved in these stories were to come forward to confirm them, I am deeply sorry that I acted as a enabler, passive to what occurred, and complicit in an environment that did not look to deal with a greater level of respect and safety.
I stand with PeachPRC. I stand with all who are speaking out.
I am listening. And I want to learn. Last year, I invited on to my podcast, three female colleagues including body-positive influencer The Bodzilla, and asked them to discuss about how I can do better for women on my film productions. I wanted to take responsibility, and do something. The conversation gave me opportunity to listen, share, and be given genuine feedback. It’s no surprise to myself, that I also have consulted The Bodzilla on writing this piece.
Clementine Ford posted on her instagram story earlier last week, “A lot of men are scared of other men turning on them, so they stay silent in order to preserve their bonds with them and avoid men’s wrath.’
If Alex’s management continued to represent him, it’s very possible that I would have continued to keep to myself about this recent saga. And I feel shame over this fact. I believe I have very little sway in the industry, and so I did fear what could result from me speaking up, and how that could reflect on me and my ambitions.
However, a very powerful man in comedy and performance artist representation, was the one to finally stand up to Alex’s behaviour and drop him from the roster. I won’t second guess his motivations, but the statement from the management company said “we do not and cannot be seen to condone behaviour such as is alleged, nor the tone or content of his responses.” I respect his former manager for initiating this course of action.
And this is why abusive behaviour must be called out from the highest levels. Rather than enabling negative behaviour, we must allow for voices to be heard, no matter how difficult it is to hear it, because I hope it will generate solidarity, much needed support and a chance to heal.
Hindsight is never helpful in this situation. I didn’t really know Alex when I casted him, and I continue to not really know him, all this time later. But watching his conduct on his social media accounts, I know enough to say, it is not for me. I do regret casting him in the film. And I no longer support him.
I choose to believe the stories being told.
And I stand with all survivors of abusive behaviour and sexual assault.
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