By JIMMY BRIGGS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
Published: 07:17 BST, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 07:18 BST, 7 October 2026
A Melbourne stand-up comedian has lost his day job following a fierce online backlash after an inappropriate and offensive comment was made about American murder victim Gabby Petito during a recent episode of his online program.
Nick Trapani, a local comedian, content creator, and remedial massage clinic operator based in Preston, was recording the latest installment of his Trapanischoice podcast alongside three other Australian figures when the conversation turned toward internet influencers and social media personalities. During the discussion, one of the participants made a dark and widely condemned remark referencing the tragic 2021 death of the late American travel vlogger, whose murder by her fiancé sparked international headlines and a massive multi-state manhunt.
The controversial exchange began when the podcast panel shifted focus to the lifestyle and behavior of online influencers. One of the men on the program made an off-colour statement directly invoking the young American woman’s fatal cross-country road trip.
"That’s the real reason that Petito chick got killed. You know, she was in the van with the boyfriend," one of the men remarked on the show.
Another participant on the panel immediately chimed in, stating, "Well that’s America. America’s f**ked up, I don’t know what you expect."
The conversation then escalated into explicit mockery of the homicide. The first speaker made a shocking statement regarding the circumstances of Petito’s death in August 2021, for which her partner, Brian Laundrie, was subsequently identified as the sole person responsible.
"But when you look at it that way, fair enough, justified," the first man said.
Another member of the panel then disparagingly labeled Petito an "influenza."
The first man doubled down on the derogatory remarks, adding, "She was a virus, yes. She was, I dunno, probably 21, 22, hottish, you’d give her one in an emergency."
Throughout the exchange, podcast host Nick Trapani did not verbally contribute any remarks concerning Petito, but video footage from the recording showed him laughing along with the statements made by his guests.
Clips of the controversial podcast episode quickly circulated across various social media platforms, triggering an immediate and intense wave of public outrage. Viewers and online commentators slammed the group for making light of a real-life domestic violence tragedy that claimed the life of a young woman. As public pressure mounted against those involved in the recording, corporate entities associated with the panel members moved swiftly to distance themselves from the controversy.
South Coast Monster Trucks, an organization that employed Trapani in a commentary capacity, was among the first to respond to the public backlash, announcing that they had terminated his position with immediate effect.
"South Coast Monster Trucks has made the decision that Nick Trapani will no longer be representing or working with our organisation," the company wrote in a formal public statement released following the incident.
"The content that has been brought to our attention does not reflect our values or the standards we expect from anyone associated with our team. Our goal has always been to create a safe, enjoyable and family-friendly environment for our community, and we stand firmly by those values."
The organization added an expression of remorse for the distress caused by the podcast comments, extending an apology to members of the public who brought the matter to their attention.
"We sincerely apologise to anyone who has been hurt, upset or disappointed by the situation. We appreciate everyone who raised their concerns with us and allowed us the opportunity to properly review the situation before making this decision," the statement concluded.
Alongside his comedy endeavors and online presenting work, Trapani operates a remedial massage clinic located in the Melbourne suburb of Preston and has built a notable following across various digital platforms. Following the rapid spread of the controversy and the subsequent termination of his commentary role, the Trapanischoice Instagram page and associated social media channels were deactivated.
The online backlash highlights the enduring sensitivity surrounding the case of Gabby Petito, which captured global attention five years ago. Petito, a 22-year-old travel blogger, was reported missing by her family in September 2021 after embarking on a cross-country van trip across the United States with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
During the initial weeks of the investigation, Laundrie returned alone to his family home in Florida without Petito and swiftly became a primary person of interest in her disappearance. As police agencies and federal investigators launched inquiries into her whereabouts, Laundrie’s parents reported him missing just days before search teams located Petito’s remains in a remote area of Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest later that same month.
A forensic examination subsequently determined that Petito’s death was a homicide, caused by manual strangulation and blunt-force trauma. As a nationwide manhunt ensued to locate Laundrie, federal authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.
The intensive search for Laundrie came to an end in October 2021, when his skeletal remains and personal belongings were discovered in a swampy environmental park in Florida not far from his family residence. Investigators later confirmed through dental records and an autopsy that Laundrie had died by suicide, effectively closing the criminal investigation into the high-profile homicide that continues to resonate deeply in public discourse.
