A popular Cape Flats comedian is die moer in after a London-based comic allegedly stole his material “for a second time”.
Yaaseen Barnes, 31, from Rondebosch, known for his dry wit, says he has been hard at work building his brand over the past six years, and was cheesed off when he discovered Louwrence van Niekerk, the creator of The Joburger Facebook page, was using his grappies without crediting him.
Yaaseen says on Tuesday he discovered a joke on The Joburger’s page, which reads: “Things that are a mess: Our government, my bank account, the Springboks, my sleeping pattern, my eating habits, a knife in Afrikaans.”
Yaaseen’s original joke, which he posted on social media in April 2014, goes: “Things that are a mess: My hair, my room, my life, my handwriting, this status, a knife in Afrikaans.”
“Joburger stole it word for word the first time, but this time he changed up some lines but it’s still stealing my joke ... again,” Yaaseen tells the Daily Voice.
COPYCAT: Joburger’s plagiarised jokes. Photo: Screenshot. Facebook
He shared the post on his own timeline, saying: “Your * *** for stealing my content.”
He also wrote on Joburger’s wall: “Stop stealing content and pretending that it’s yours, especially if you’ve been told where it comes from.”
He adds: “I’ve basically been robbed, he’s making money off my jokes, his basically taking my bread and butter from me.”
Yaaseen’s fans also vented on Joburger’s page, with Dragan Kuruzovic posting: “Stealing content is pathetic. Get a grip and credit Yaseen Barnes for this and also ideally delete yourself.”
And Ismail Moses said: “Dear Joburger, you’re an intellectual property tief, a stinja bottle’s rim jam, a naat borsel’s najis, a low life plagiarising parasite. You deserve a sans souci slap. (sic)”
The Joburger did not respond to the Daily Voice for comment.