‘Brekkie’ prompts American podcasters’ apology to ‘all of Australia’ after backlash
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 47
When humour and cultural quirks collide, interesting things can happen—and sometimes, they can lead to international incidents of the most benign kind.
Case in point: Two American podcasters found themselves in hot water over a seemingly innocent comment about an Aussie slang word.
Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the popular I've Had It podcast, were forced to apologise to 'all of Australia' after a segment in which they criticised the use of the term 'brekkie'.
For those unfamiliar with Australian vernacular, 'brekkie' is a colloquial term for breakfast, as beloved to Australians as Vegemite on toast.
However, Welch expressed her frustration with the term during a podcast episode, leading to backlash from Australian listeners.
'I'd had it with the word brekkie. Well, in Australia, that is what they call breakfast exclusively,' she explained to Sullivan, her co-star in the TV series Sweet Home Oklahoma.
The comedy podcast sees the pair vent about their daily annoyances, but this particular gripe struck a nerve with their Australian audience.
A video of the segment was shared on their social media accounts, leading to a flurry of comments from disgruntled Aussies.
'Australia is shook right now,' one person commented.
Another suggested, ‘I think you need a deep dive into Australian slang.'
However, Welch quickly clarified that her issue was not with Australians but with American influencers who use the term without understanding its cultural context.
'I want the country of Australia to know that I'm specifically talking about Americans, influencers on [social media] that can not find Australia on a map with both hands and a flashlight,’ she said.
‘These are the people I've had it with, I've not had it with Australia or Australians.'
‘And now we have to go on the Aussie redemption tour.’
Thankfully, Welch's clarification was well received, with one Australian listener responding, 'Thanks for the clarity, us Aussies were triggered.'
Others even agreed with her point, acknowledging Australians have a penchant for abbreviating words.
Watch the video segment below:
Credit: @ivehaditpodcast / Instagram
This isn't the first time Australian slang has caused a stir internationally.
Last year, the US embassy in Australia raised eyebrows after sharing a list of questionable slang words Australians use, including 'Sleeve Irwin' for a sweatshirt.
In a similar story, a Canadian living in Australia was flabbergasted after coming across a certain term in an Australian calendar.
Confused about the word, he said, ‘What is this, Harry Potter?’
You can read more about the story here.
What do you think, members? Is it okay for non-Australians to use Aussie slang, or should they leave 'brekkie' to the locals? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Case in point: Two American podcasters found themselves in hot water over a seemingly innocent comment about an Aussie slang word.
Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the popular I've Had It podcast, were forced to apologise to 'all of Australia' after a segment in which they criticised the use of the term 'brekkie'.
For those unfamiliar with Australian vernacular, 'brekkie' is a colloquial term for breakfast, as beloved to Australians as Vegemite on toast.
However, Welch expressed her frustration with the term during a podcast episode, leading to backlash from Australian listeners.
'I'd had it with the word brekkie. Well, in Australia, that is what they call breakfast exclusively,' she explained to Sullivan, her co-star in the TV series Sweet Home Oklahoma.
The comedy podcast sees the pair vent about their daily annoyances, but this particular gripe struck a nerve with their Australian audience.
A video of the segment was shared on their social media accounts, leading to a flurry of comments from disgruntled Aussies.
'Australia is shook right now,' one person commented.
Another suggested, ‘I think you need a deep dive into Australian slang.'
However, Welch quickly clarified that her issue was not with Australians but with American influencers who use the term without understanding its cultural context.
'I want the country of Australia to know that I'm specifically talking about Americans, influencers on [social media] that can not find Australia on a map with both hands and a flashlight,’ she said.
‘These are the people I've had it with, I've not had it with Australia or Australians.'
‘And now we have to go on the Aussie redemption tour.’
Thankfully, Welch's clarification was well received, with one Australian listener responding, 'Thanks for the clarity, us Aussies were triggered.'
Others even agreed with her point, acknowledging Australians have a penchant for abbreviating words.
Watch the video segment below:
Credit: @ivehaditpodcast / Instagram
This isn't the first time Australian slang has caused a stir internationally.
Last year, the US embassy in Australia raised eyebrows after sharing a list of questionable slang words Australians use, including 'Sleeve Irwin' for a sweatshirt.
In a similar story, a Canadian living in Australia was flabbergasted after coming across a certain term in an Australian calendar.
Confused about the word, he said, ‘What is this, Harry Potter?’
You can read more about the story here.
Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Welch, an American podcaster, apologised to Australians after mocking the term 'brekkie,' which is a common abbreviation for breakfast in Australia.
- Welch clarified her complaint was aimed at American influencers who use the term without truly understanding Australian culture.
- The issue prompted backlash from Australians on social media, but Welch's apology and clarification were positively received.
- The podcast host mentioned going on an 'Aussie redemption tour' to address the misunderstanding and expressed respect for Australia and its people.