Stephen Colbert branded 'racist' after using a didgeridoo during skit about Australia

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By James Kay

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Stephen Colbert has caused anger across the world after he played the didgeridoo on the set of his show - with some people branding him as a racist.

Colbert, 58, started on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015 and has since become one of the favorite talk show hosts in the US.

However, even years of experience haven't stopped Colbert from finding himself in hot water after a skit on a recent episode didn't go down too well with fans.

During the clip which has since been shared on Twitter, the 58-year-old discusses Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch before moving on to Crikey News, while putting on a semi-decent Australian accent.

Lachlan Murdoch is suing Crikey News for implying that he was a conspirator in the January 6 insurrection, but that wasn't the part that Colbert picked up on.

Finding the name of the Australian news outlet funny, he then made up a segment called "Didgerinews", and then he pulled out a real didgeridoo and failed to play it correctly.

Slipping into the Australian accent, Colbert said: "Tonight's top story? All that, and deadly spiders in your shower," before coming back to himself and saying: "Also, we don’t broadcast down there, do we? Ah, it’s all in good fun."

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An Indigenous person playing the didgeridoo. Credit: Andrew Watson / Alamy

What Colbert didn't account for, is that even if the show doesn't broadcast in other parts of the world, social media has a way of getting clips to places where it needs to be seen.

The clip really hasn't sat well with some people, as one person stated: "Oh great Colbert - can you be more racist?"

A second noted that you can only play the instrument with special permission: "God damn there are cultural rules around whom can and can’t play a didge."

A third person added: "Way to insult the oldest continuing living culture in the entire world, Colbert."

A fourth said: "Yep, we in Oz see what you say and do. Nice to see you showing your supposed ally some respect!"

This is all before we discuss the outrage at how he pronounced the name Lachlan...

As reported, the didgeridoo can also be spelled didjeridu and is sometimes known as a yidaki, mandapul, or mako.

While it is not illegal to play the instrument, it is widely believed that any non-Indiginous person wishing to play it needs to seek permission before doing so.

As Australian Wildlife states: "Always be conscious that the didgeridoo is far more than a musical instrument, and should be played and cared for with the utmost respect for the traditional owners."

It is unknown whether Colbert received permission to play the instrument, but it's safe to say his handling and the writing of the jokes make it appear that he isn't showing the appropriate care.

Colbert is yet to comment on the controversy.

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy