{"id":693258,"date":"2026-05-25T09:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/693258\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:48:11","slug":"fury-over-comedian-robby-hoffmans-disgraceful-joke-targeting-400000-aussies-not-funny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/693258\/","title":{"rendered":"Fury over comedian Robby Hoffman’s ‘disgraceful’ joke targeting 400,000 Aussies: ‘Not funny’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A comedian<\/a> and TV star\u2019s \u201cjoke\u201d about a condition that impacts one in 70 people in Australia has gone down like a lead balloon and has sparked anger across the globe.<\/p>\n

Robby Hoffman<\/a>, who’s appeared on shows like Rooster and Hacks, was recently a guest on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast.<\/p>\n

She went through a bunch of hot takes about society, and was asked about people who are intolerant to gluten<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it real? she replied. \u201cI want to see the outbreak.<\/p>\n

“It better look like Will Smith in Hitch. If it’s not Will Smith blowing up in Hitch\u2026I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

The moment she\u2019s referring to was when Will Smith\u2019s character in the 2005 film suffers a severe allergic reaction to food he ate, and his face became inflamed in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n

Alex suggested gluten intolerance is a \u201crecent\u201d issue, and Robby agreed, saying \u201ceverybody is suddenly coeliac\u201d, insinuating it\u2019s more of a trend than an autoimmune condition.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share? Contact au.lifestyle.ent@yahooinc.com<\/a><\/p>\n

The comedian went one step further and claimed that very few people have peanut allergies these days because it\u2019s \u201cnot cool anymore\u201d.<\/p>\n

Robby realised it might have been a bit too much of a hot take and stressed she \u201cbelieved\u201d those who say they\u2019re intolerant to gluten and that she was \u201cjoking\u201d.<\/p>\n

A source told PEOPLE<\/a> the comedian was just \u201cdoing a bit\u201d and \u201ceveryone\u201d in the room knew it.<\/p>\n

But for people who are intolerant to gluten, as well as those with coeliac disease, including this Yahoo Lifestyle reporter, we were struggling to see the funny side.<\/p>\n

What is coeliac disease?<\/p>\n

Coeliac is an autoimmune condition where your body essentially attacks itself when you eat wheat, gluten, rye or barley, and it severely limits your food options.<\/p>\n

Every time you go out to eat, you’re at risk of cross-contamination, and gluten-free options are a lot more expensive.<\/p>\n

Around one in 70 people<\/a> in Australia have the condition, yet 80 per cent of these people are undiagnosed.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/p>\n

I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2021.<\/p>\n

(Yahoo Lifestyle)<\/p>\n

Symptoms of the condition include constipation, stomach pain, feeling generally unwell and diarrhoea. But not everyone experiences the same symptoms.<\/p>\n

I didn’t have the typical markers for coeliac disease, according to my doctors at the time. I was vomiting after every meal – and I do mean every meal.<\/p>\n

I was constantly exhausted and afflicted with brutal migraines which became so bad that I sometimes lost my vision.<\/p>\n

Since being diagnosed and not eating gluten, I’ve only had a handful of attacks akin to severe food poisoning.<\/p>\n

I have been lucky, but I know of people who have horrific reactions to eating even the smallest pieces of gluten.<\/p>\n

Why are people so upset?<\/p>\n

The reason that so many people are upset by Robby’s comments is that coeliac disease is often treated as a joke and lumped in with health nuts who believe anything too processed will kill you.<\/p>\n

I bloody wish. If I continued to eat gluten, it could mean some serious health complications, such as bowel cancer and osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n

It’s definitely not fun having to interrogate restaurant waiters about whether the hot chips are cooked in different fryers, or pay $8 more for a pizza that’s much smaller than everyone else’s.<\/p>\n

\"Robby<\/p>\n

Robby said she was “joking” and an insider claimed she was “doing a bit”.<\/p>\n

(Instagram\/Robby Hoffman\/Call Her Daddy)<\/p>\n

I can’t count the number of social situations I’ve had to miss because I can’t eat anything on the menu, or the arguments I’ve had at restaurants because I’ve been asked “what level of coeliac” I am, as though that’s even a thing.<\/p>\n

It can be incredibly isolating and embarrassing, particularly when so few people truly understand it.<\/p>\n

Some people even call it a \u201cred flag\u201d, and say they wouldn’t date anyone with this disease.<\/p>\n

So, when the most-listened-to female podcast airs a clip joking about whether gluten intolerance is even real, it perpetuates the idea that it’s not to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n

It confirms that every anxiety or concern I’ve ever had is viewed as irrational by society, even when I know it’s damaging me.<\/p>\n

It makes me feel like an attention-seeker, as though my experience isn\u2019t valid.<\/p>\n

I am far from the only one outraged about this.<\/p>\n

Alex Cooper has uploaded six videos of her chat with Robby to Instagram, and each one is filled with angry comments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gives Joe Rogan vibes. Talking about an autoimmune disorder with wild opinions and no research. Do better,\u201d one angry comment reads.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care if someone is a \u2018comedian\u2019, it\u2019s not funny to make fun of and play down an autoimmune disorder that I am CONSTANTLY having to defend as-is,\u201d added another.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. Because we all just WANT to limit our access to food, be extremely cautious about everything, and pay extra for all food. Right,\u201d wrote a third.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a stance on things you know for sure. not things you want to poke fun at. You\u2019re not a doctor. Let\u2019s all be nice to each other. This is disgraceful behaviour,\u201d a fourth said.<\/p>\n

Some have even demanded that the podcast host and comedian issue a proper apology.<\/p>\n

Yahoo Lifestyle<\/a> has contacted Robby and her management for comment.<\/p>\n

Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure to follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram, <\/a>and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n