Comedian Alex 'Shooter' Williamson has ignited fresh controversy with a recently posted AI-generated image that mocks immigration and the Australian national football team, the Socceroos. The incident follows a previous public condemnation of Williamson for a joke made about Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Williamson, who refers to himself online as 'Australia's Loosest Bloke,' shared the AI-generated image on Facebook and Instagram. The image depicts Williamson at the helm of a small boat carrying young footballers in Australian jerseys, heading towards an Australian beach. An Australian Border Force vessel is visible offshore, while cheering supporters await on land under a banner welcoming the "future Socceroos."
Williamson captioned the post, "Smuggling next gen of Socceroos into Australia on a shanty boat. #fifa #worldcup #australia." The post rapidly drew criticism from social media users who interpreted it as an offensive commentary on migrants and the multicultural composition of the Socceroos team.
Responses from social media users included comments such as, "Get off ChatGPT ... This isn't funny," and "So offensive. All the Socceroos came here legally." Another user dismissed Williamson as an "Attention seeking cooker."
This latest incident occurs months after Williamson faced widespread criticism for a now-deleted TikTok video that contained a joke referencing the alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby. The video, which has since been removed from the platform, reportedly involved Williamson acting out a fictional phone conversation and making remarks that prompted significant backlash. Copies of the video later surfaced on social media.
The controversy surrounding the Kumanjayi Little Baby joke led to Williamson being stood down from the Willunga Football Club, which later confirmed he was no longer registered with them. The club issued a statement asserting that Williamson's comments were "completely unacceptable and do not reflect the values of our club" and acknowledged the hurt caused, particularly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Williamson, once a prominent figure in Australian online comedy with a substantial following, has seen his career significantly impacted by repeated controversies. His management company terminated their relationship with him in 2021 following allegations made by his former partner, musician Peach PRC, which Williamson denied. This led to his removal from lineups at major comedy festivals. Despite performing independently and maintaining a social media presence, his online career continues to be marked by controversies, including confrontations during live shows and provocative social media posts.