Latrell Mitchell hits back at Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic who called NRL ad campaign ‘divisive’

Latrell Mitchell has hit back at criticism of his appearance in an NRL ad campaign. 

Some fans criticised the ad – which features Tina Turner’s song ‘The Best’ in an homage to a famous campaign from the 1990s – saying it was too politicised and contained errors.

The two minute video divided rugby league fans when it aired for the first time on Monday night, 11 days out from the start of the season.

Mitchell features in the ad, standing in the water at a beach with an Aboriginal flag draped over his shoulders. 

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic slammed the ad on Tuesday.

‘How do you unite the game when you have a picture of Latrell Mitchell on his own with the Aboriginal flag around him? That’s not unifying, that’s divisive,’ he said.  

In response, Mitchell shared posts on Instagram written by fans who hit back at Stefanovic.

The NRL has defended their virtue-signalling 2020 TV campaign after fans slammed the ad for being too politicised. Pictured: Latrell Mitchell with an Aboriginal flag draped around him from the new campaign

On Wednesday morning, the South Sydney Rabbitohs star shared an Instagram story post written by a fan who slammed Stefanovic for his comments

‘A week after Indigenous All Stars and they back going after [Mitchell]. It’s disgusting,’ one fan said.

Mitchell also shared another comment made by a fan who defended him.

‘This ad shows [Charnze] Nicholl-Klokstad by himself, shows [Tyson] Frizell by himself. Yet Karl picks out Latrell standing by himself with the Aboriginal flag as ”divisive”. Once again blackfullas can’t be proud of our culture without a white person’s approval,’ the comment read.

‘Once again an indigenous people must shut up and play footy so that we can avoid offending the racists of our country.’

The NRL was forced to defend  its controversial new TV campaign after fans slammed the ad for its ‘political correctness’ and embarrassing blunders.

NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo said the commercial is not intended to be political and showcases highlight moments for the game over the past 30 years.  

NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo defended the campaign, saying it was a showcase of the codes proud history

Latrell Mitchell (pictured with daughter Inala and his partner)

US rapper Macklemore’s pre-match tribute to same-sex marriage at the 2017 Grand Final is also featured – as fans criticised his inclusion given his tenuous association with rugby league.

Mr Abdo stood firm, telling the Sydney Morning Herald the campaign was a showcase of the code’s proud history.

‘We’re not forcing anyone to believe in one thing or another,’ he said. ‘Those events have happened. Latrell is a superstar for us, Macklemore performed at the grand final in a moment we were really proud of. That brought our fans together and his performance was great. 

‘This campaign is not intended to be political. It’s a showcase of our history; our people, our events that shaped where we are today. The intent of the campaign is to embrace what’s happened in the last 30 years, but also to give a nostalgic feeling for people who are new to the game to understand the moments that have mattered so they can feel part of it.’ 

The ad features memorable moments from the last 30 years – including Darren Albert’s try in the dying seconds to win Newcastle their first premiership in 1997, Wests Tigers’ Benji Marshall’s magic flick pass in the 2005 grand final, South Sydney breaking their 43-year premiership drought in 2014 and Johnathan Thurston’s extra-time one pointer in 2015 to win a maiden premiership for the North Queensland Cowboys.

Mr Abdo said the NRL can adjust the campaign for the fans.

‘There has been no directive from anyone to adjust it. But if the intent of the campaign is to be positive and showcase the game and some people feel isolated, we will adjust and listen to our fans. If we think something isn’t working, we will change it — but that is our decision,’ he said.

A young Jake and Tom Trbojevic in the new NRL ad dated 1996 – the year Tom was born

Don’t mention the war! References to the bitter Super League war have since been omitted

Red-faced NRL officials were forced to make last-minute edits to the ad after a series of embarrassing blunders in the campaign originally went unnoticed.

Eagled-eyed fans were quick to notice several mistakes – including footage of Manly brothers Jake and Tom Trbojevic playing in the backyard, which is dated from 1996. 

‘Hey NRL, just on your new ad for 2020, you do know Tom Trbojevic [was] born 2 October 1996,’ a Sea Eagles fan tweeted. 

The mistake is followed by a voice over referring to the bitter Super League war in the mid 1990s.

‘As the Super League war tears the code apart,’ the since deleted voice over states.

There’s yet another error in the footage was the massive protest march from South Sydney fans in November 2000 after their club was kicked out of the NRL when the competition was reduced to 14 teams.

The ad shows a fan at the protest wearing a Rabbitohs jumper with Sutton emblazoned across the back.

Rabbitohs champion John Sutton did not make his debut for South Sydney until four years later.

Footage from the protest march in 2000 shows a Souths fan with the name Sutton emblazoned on the back- four years before club legend John Sutton made his debut

An earlier version of the ad sent to news outlets showed scenes of Bulldogs legend Hazem El Masri’s final match for the club.

The scene begins with the words ‘Belmore 2010’ when his last game was in 2009.

The ad produced a polarising response from NRL fans on social media. 

‘We love the footy to get away from politics and advocacy nonsense, and we loved the original because it was centred on footy! Ruined,’ one man tweeted. 

The ad shows Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki kissing after a women’s State of Origin game last year- which has sparked backlash from conservative fans

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg defended the new ad, despite the blunders, controversy and public backlash. 

‘This campaign celebrates the best on and off field moments in our game over the last 30 years and acknowledges some of the challenges we have overcome,’ he said.

‘It also reflects on the impact of rugby league in Australian communities and how our game, like no other, brings communities and cultures together.’

‘We have always stood for inclusion and the campaign addresses some of the most important social issues.’

Turner met with NRL stars, dressed in jerseys, played footy on the beach and danced onstage in the NRL’s iconic 1990 advert. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the iconic ad

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