Humor & Life Quote by Julian Clary

Julian Clary’s line lands because it’s doing two jobs at once: flattering a national self-image while quietly needling it. “I think Australians like a bit of vulgarity” sounds like an offhand observation, but the phrase “a bit” is the tell. It’s a softener that pretends moderation while smuggling in a bigger claim: that vulgarity isn’t a lapse in taste so much as a local currency, something shared and enjoyed rather than apologized for.

Clary, a comedian whose persona leans into polished camp and weaponized innuendo, is also positioning himself shrewdly. He’s not just talking about Australians; he’s negotiating permission. By framing bawdiness as something the audience already “likes,” he gives himself cover to go further, to push sexual or taboo material while keeping the room on his side. If anyone bristles, the implication is they’re the exception, not the rule - the stiff who doesn’t get the joke.

The subtext plays on a long-standing mythos of Australian culture: egalitarian, anti-pretension, suspicious of high-mindedness, quick to puncture authority with a rude punchline. “Vulgarity” here isn’t only about dirty jokes; it’s about a refusal to be impressed. Clary’s slyness is that he wraps critique in camaraderie. It’s a compliment with a raised eyebrow: you’re fun, you’re unfiltered, you’re a little coarse - and you prefer it that way.