A comedian and TV star’s “joke” 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.
Robby Hoffman, who’s appeared on shows like Rooster and Hacks, was recently a guest on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast.
She went through a bunch of hot takes about society, and was asked about people who are intolerant to gluten.
“Is it real? she replied. “I want to see the outbreak.
“It better look like Will Smith in Hitch. If it’s not Will Smith blowing up in Hitch…I don’t know.”
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The moment she’s referring to was when Will Smith’s character in the 2005 film suffers a severe allergic reaction to food he ate, and his face became inflamed in a matter of minutes.
Alex suggested gluten intolerance is a “recent” issue, and Robby agreed, saying “everybody is suddenly coeliac”, insinuating it’s more of a trend than an autoimmune condition.
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The comedian went one step further and claimed that very few people have peanut allergies these days because it’s “not cool anymore”.
Robby realised it might have been a bit too much of a hot take and stressed she “believed” those who say they’re intolerant to gluten and that she was “joking”.
A source told PEOPLE the comedian was just “doing a bit” and “everyone” in the room knew it.
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.
What is coeliac disease?
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.
Every time you go out to eat, you’re at risk of cross-contamination, and gluten-free options are a lot more expensive.
Around one in 70 people in Australia have the condition, yet 80 per cent of these people are undiagnosed.
I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2021.
(Yahoo Lifestyle)
Symptoms of the condition include constipation, stomach pain, feeling generally unwell and diarrhoea. But not everyone experiences the same symptoms.
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.
I was constantly exhausted and afflicted with brutal migraines which became so bad that I sometimes lost my vision.
Since being diagnosed and not eating gluten, I’ve only had a handful of attacks akin to severe food poisoning.
I have been lucky, but I know of people who have horrific reactions to eating even the smallest pieces of gluten.
Why are people so upset?
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.
I bloody wish. If I continued to eat gluten, it could mean some serious health complications, such as bowel cancer and osteoarthritis.
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.
Robby said she was “joking” and an insider claimed she was “doing a bit”.
(Instagram/Robby Hoffman/Call Her Daddy)
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.
It can be incredibly isolating and embarrassing, particularly when so few people truly understand it.
Some people even call it a “red flag”, and say they wouldn’t date anyone with this disease.
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.
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.
It makes me feel like an attention-seeker, as though my experience isn’t valid.
I am far from the only one outraged about this.
Alex Cooper has uploaded six videos of her chat with Robby to Instagram, and each one is filled with angry comments.
“This gives Joe Rogan vibes. Talking about an autoimmune disorder with wild opinions and no research. Do better,” one angry comment reads.
“I don’t care if someone is a ‘comedian’, it’s not funny to make fun of and play down an autoimmune disorder that I am CONSTANTLY having to defend as-is,” added another.
“Right. Because we all just WANT to limit our access to food, be extremely cautious about everything, and pay extra for all food. Right,” wrote a third.
“Take a stance on things you know for sure. not things you want to poke fun at. You’re not a doctor. Let’s all be nice to each other. This is disgraceful behaviour,” a fourth said.
Some have even demanded that the podcast host and comedian issue a proper apology.
Yahoo Lifestyle has contacted Robby and her management for comment.
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