Channel Nine has been criticised for running a TV advert for the 'No' to same-sex marriage campaign, which aired during the NRL Grand Finale immediately after Macklemore's performance of pro-same-sex marriage song 'Same Love'.
Singer Macklemore and the NRL had been at the centre of controversy for the past week as some Australians disagreed with the sporting body becoming involved in the same-sex marriage debate, given the nature of the song.
The outcry comes after a new TV ad by the ‘No’ same-sex marriage campaign was approved to run during the NRL Grand Final broadcast.
The ad, from the Coalition for Marriage, opened with the line 'Love is Love', appropriating the popular 'Yes' campaign slogan. It then featured messages that 'No' campaigners claim to have been sent in the lead up to the postal plebiscite, such as "I genuinely hope someone kicks your teeth in" and "What a bunch of homophobic maggots".
Viewers called out the ad placement on Twitter as "awful" and "hateful", however most agreed it didn't take away from the strong message of the overall performance.
https://twitter.com/MaeB2109/status/914403353416757249
https://twitter.com/andielovelly/status/914406620540497920
https://twitter.com/drkerrynphelps/status/914421425729044481
https://twitter.com/polmccann/status/914403274043809792
https://twitter.com/Captain__DMan/status/914402941347315712
According to Sky News, the advertisement was not run during the Richmond v Adelaide AFL Grand Final clash after it was classified M due to its contents.
This ad did not appear to air during the actual NRL Grand Final match between the North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm, only in the pre-show.
The Grand Finale match pulled an average 2.325m metro viewers and 3.400m nationwide.
Nine issued a statement to AdNews saying: "We will accept advertising from all parties. They are required to comply with the Free TV Industry Code of Practice and related codes and in this case this ad met those requirements."
Ray Hadley says No to Macklemore
Macquarie Media radio stations 2GB and 3AW opted not to play Macklemore's same-sex marriage anthem during their live broadcast of Sunday's NRL grand final.
Instead of airing the US rapper's rendition of Same Love, 2GB chose to cut to a rap song that radio host Ray Hadley had recorded with his daughter. The recording was also played on sister station, Melbourne's 3AW.
Hadley was one of the most fierce critics of the NRL’s decision to hire Macklemore for the pre-match entertainment.
Melbourne’s 3AW host Neil Mitchell said he was “appalled” by the decision by Hadley.
Macklemore's controversial performance was the topic of last night's Media Watch. Watch it here.
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