‘Too white’: Nine is slammed for lack of diversity in pro-vaccine ad that features likes of Karl Stefanovic, Ali Langdon, Scott Cam, Erin Molan and Eddie McGuire
- Channel Nine ad encouraging Australian’s to get vaccinated comes under fire
- Social media users pointed out that every personality featured is Caucasian
- The ‘all white’ Covid vaccine promotion was slammed by diversity advocates
Channel Nine has come under fire for its ‘all white’ television ad encouraging Australians to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
The TV network unveiled its #GetVaccinated promotion on Tuesday with the tagline ‘this is our shot’.
The campaign features a host of the Nine’s biggest stars including The Block’s Scott Cam, the Today show’s Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic.
Also featured were comedians Hamish and Andy, sports presenter Erin Molan, Hot Seat’s Eddie McGuire, and even singer superstar Amy Shark.
But offended viewers pointed out that all of the 18 celebrities in the ad are Caucasian.
Channel Nine has come under fire for its ‘all white’ television ad encouraging Australians to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Pictured: Channel Nine’s Erin Molan (left) and Allison Langdon (right)
Leading the Twitter charge was Media Diversity Australia co-founder and Channel 10 presenter Antoinette Lattouf.
‘Yo Channel 9 you missed your shot at looking like you care about the health of anyone who isn’t white #getvaccinated #butonlyifyourewhite,’ she posted.
Ms Lattouf said though she applauded what the network was trying to do for public health, ‘good intentions doesn’t (sic) mean you escape criticism when you miss the mark’.
‘How many people took part or approved it? Social media team, publicity team, on air talent, production etc,’ she said.
‘Many opportunities for someone to notice the glaring obvious. Welcome to blind spots folks. I trust it’s that and not white supremacy.’
ABC journalist Natasha Mitchell also took aim at the advertising whitewash.
‘So white. Australia is 24 million times more diverse. Do better to represent. Tagline “This is Our Shot” catchy and effective. It could stick,’ Mitchell wrote.
Lee Martin, who studies cultural diversity in workplaces said the ‘ad feels like one blonde woman after another interspersed with some white blokes’.
The Block’s Scott Cam is featured in the Covid-19 promotion getting the vaccine
Leading the Twitter charge was Media Diversity Australia co-founder and Channel 10 presenter Antoinette Lattouf
Twitter users were baffled why Indigenous presenter Brooke Boney and Vietnamese-Australian newsreader Tracy Vo were left out of the promotion.
Daily Mail Australia took concerns over lack of diversity to the network.
Director of television Michael Healy said it is just the first in a series of promotions to follow.
‘As we are in the midst of a global pandemic, Nine Network is continuing to support community awareness regarding Covid and to be informed about the vaccination, this is our shot for Australia to be connected again,’ he said.
‘It is an internal initiative and there will be a number of promos rolled out during this campaign’.
Twitter users were baffled why Indigenous presenter Brooke Boney (right) and Vietnamese-Australian newsreader Tracy Vo (left) were left out of the promotion