Nina Oyama critiques Dave Hughes on Instagram ahead of Class Clowns
Australian comedian Nina Oyama posted a pointed social media critique of co-star Dave “Hughesy” Hughes on Tuesday, ahead of the ABC comedy competition series Class Clowns. Oyama stated on Instagram that the show’s production by a large team of crew members and comics shouldn’t be ruined by “one old guy who is addicted to espousing nonsense on the internet” and noted that her teammate did not say the word “Albo” once.
Social Media Jab Ahead of ABC Premiere
The public friction surfaced via Instagram as Oyama promoted the premiere of Class Clowns, which debuts on ABC iView. According to reporting from news.com.au, Oyama listed five reasons for audiences to watch the program, hosted by Julia Morris. Alongside joking that she does a flip, items three and four targeted Hughes and his recent shift into political commentary.
Oyama wrote that the program’s hard work by producers, writers, and camera crews should not be overshadowed. In an accompanying teaser clip, Oyama had previously joked that she and Hughes shared connected minds during filming back in January. However, she added an overlay to an Instagram Story clarifying that she had since unconnected her mind from that dynamic.
Political Commentary Strains On-Screen Partnership
The working relationship between the two comedians cooled in the months following production, which took place before the 2026 school year started. When an Instagram follower commented on Oyama’s post calling Hughes a “cooker,” Oyama replied that working alongside him in January was “pretty fun at the time (January, when life was simpler).”
Hughes has increasingly utilized his social media platforms in the latter months of 2026 to offer sharp criticism of the federal government, national politics, and rising interest rates, marking a clear pivot from his conventional observational stand-up comedy.
Dave Hughes Responds to the Public Critique
Addressing the online remarks, Hughes responded via his own Instagram account alongside a promotional clip for the show. He acknowledged that some classmates had distanced themselves since the May Budget triggered his outspoken commentary against Labor government policies and spending.
“We all had a great time and it’s really funny!” Hughes wrote on Instagram, as cited by news.com.au. “Some of my classmates have disowned me since the May Budget triggered my crusade against Labor Govt waste and corruption, but I’m confident they will see I was right one day.”
Hughes also defended his involvement in the publicly funded ABC series against online critics, noting that the production was made on a tight budget using taxpayer funds. “I’m on an ABC show… called Class Clowns – it’s very funny and it was done cheaply,” Hughes stated in a video post. “I was paid taxpayer money. I got some of my own money back.”
Class Clowns pairs six comedians into three competing houses for school-subject challenges, featuring teams including Oyama and Hughes, Becky Lucas and Matt Okine, and Luke McGregor and Bron Lewis, with Julia Morris presiding as principal.
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