Exclusive: Comedian Jimmy Rees on why he isn’t always the ‘fun dad’
The social media star is heading on tour – and he might be coming to your town!
In recent years, comedian Jimmy Rees has experienced a massive surge in popularity. When the pandemic initially struck, Jimmy made an early decision to spend much of his free time creating funny videos and sharing them across his social media platforms.
Now 36-year-old Jimmy, he has become a bona fide social media sensation. His videos, particularly his Meanwhile In Australia series, which has racked up millions of views on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
As a dad-of-three, Jimmy is also known for making some hilariously relatable parenting videos. Jimmy shares his children – 8yo Lenny and 4yo twin boys, Mack and Vinny – with his wife Tori Rees, whom he met in a pub 15 years ago.
As Jimmy Rees prepares to head off on a regional tour of Australia, he spoke to Bounty Parents about life on the road, his family and why he isn’t always the ‘fun dad’.
Jimmy Rees on his upcoming tour, family life and finding humour in everything
Congratulations on your national Let’s Get Regional tour. What made you want to take your tour into small towns?
Well, audiences are everywhere. A lot of the people who followed along with me on Instagram and YouTube and everywhere, even LinkedIn, are all over Australia and with the content I make, I try to be the voice of the people.
During the pandemic, my Meanwhile in Australia series incorporated all Australians, not just those in the big cities. I went on tour to the capital cities and it was about time I went out on a regional tour.
How will you juggle your time on the road and being away from your family? Will Tori and your boys be able to join you on the road?
The last couple of times when we’ve gone to the capital cities, we’ve made a little holiday out of it and spent a week or two somewhere if it was during the school holidays. Although it seems like there are a lot of dates, it’s spread out over a few months, it’s not all in a row and so I’ll be home a lot during that time too.
Kids can be a tough audience at times. Do your kids ever find your jokes not funny?
All the time, especially as they’re getting older. But we’ve got all boys in the house and for now I can always win them over with fart jokes.
Being a dad has influenced your comedy and parents can relate to your honesty and hilarious view on some of the everyday moments. In what ways has becoming a dad changed you and your outlook on life?
When you become a parent you have to relinquish all of your desires for whatever it is that you want to do right now, because bad luck, you can’t, not anymore. So, just embrace that outlook on life and submit to the fact that they come first. And you know, we want it that way. Everything is for them.
In terms of how it has influenced my content, it’s not hard to just look around and think, ‘that’s hilarious’. What is interesting to me is I’ll think something is niche to my family dynamic or relationship, but it’s not. If you talk to anyone, it is the same or it’s very common. These topics can be for just about everyone. Look at all the comments and the shares. It’s interesting to put those things out there and look at our little local habitat and just laugh.
In terms of your parenting style and Tori’s parenting style are you the fun one and Tori the more serious one?
In broad terms, that’s probably correct, but being the ‘fun dad’ is also hamstrung by ‘getting walked all over dad’. There is a more stern side to me which I have to us because otherwise they take me for a ride.
In addition to his regional tour, Jimmy Rees is currently the face of Audible Australia, and his top 10 listens can be found at audible.com.au/jimmy.
