Politics

Our Favourite Jacinda Ardern Impersonator Is Back With A Perfect Parody Of That Earthquake Video

"Oh! Bit of glass has come from the ceiling... no no no, we'll continue."

by Jared Richards  26 May 2020
Melanie Bracewell parodies Jacinda Ardern earthquake video

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Five years ago — also known as ‘March’ — we told you that New Zealand comedian Melanie Bracewell’s impersonation of Jacinda Ardern simply “has to be seen”. Now, we’re delighted to say her newest video might be her best yet, as Bracewell parodies the viral video of Ardern responding calmly to an earthquake’s tremors interrupting a press conference.

In case you haven’t seen it, the original video was captured on Monday morning, as a 5.8 earthquake shook the room of a live press conference in the Beehive, the unofficial nickname for NZ’s parliament house. Ardern was calm and collected, stating the obvious with a polite manner that feels a stone-throw away from the world’s other headline-grabbing leaders.

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This New Zealand Comedian's Impression Of Jacinda Ardern Has To Be Seen

“We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here Ryan, quite a decent shake here,” she said, talking to interviewer Ryan Bridge.

She even made a couple of points to reassure viewers as it happened, smiling and laughing through.

“But if you see things moving behind me, the Beehive moves a little more than most…. Yep, no, it’s just stopped. Nope we’re fine here Ryan, I’m not under any hanging lights. I look like I’m in a structurally sound place.”

You can catch the video here, which might be worth it as a refresher to capture exactly why Bracewell’s impersonation is so good.

Calling it the “extended cut”, Bracewell braves through a slightly more dramatic earthquake, some cuts from glass and a swarm of bees with as much ease as Ardern.

Perhaps the comedian has a new job as impersonating women the internet absolutely loves: Bracewell just did a TikTok responding to people saying she also looks like Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, and the transformation is pretty amazing.

For the record, there have been no reported injuries or structural damage recorded from the earthquake. Judging by another live-reaction on Twitter, Ardern might’ve perfectly captured the nation’s non-plussed, determined mood.