Warning: this article contains mention of suicide that some people may find distressing.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the duo known as Ant and Dec, have apologised after an advert promoting their new podcast was met with fierce criticism and it was labelled as “triggering”.
Following major backlash, the promo clip for their new podcast was taken down, after it was labelled as “poor taste”.
And now the presenters have apologised and confirmed the advert had been pulled, in a statement issued to Metro.
“We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video and we are sorry if it has upset anyone. We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video”, they said in a statement.
The pair are known for presenting shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Britain’s Got Talent and their own show, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
They are now set to launch their new podcast on Thursday (January 22), Hanging Out with And & Dec, and they launched a new promo video for the new podcast.
The promo shows them hanging from a clothesline, but at the start of the clip, a pair of shoes and jeans are seen ominously hung above the ground.
(Image: X)
The imagery was considered as “triggering” by some users on X (formerly Twitter).
Even though the video shows that they’re on a clothesline, according to many, the first shot was in poor taste.
“You boys rarely get your PR wrong, but this???? The imagery will be triggering for many”, one X user noted.
While another one commented “Who signed off on the start of this ad…”.
Mental health advocate and former X Factor contestant, Katie Waissel, wrote that “This opening visual of feet suspended above the ground is not a harmless ‘play on words’ , it immediately reads as someone hanging, and the suicide imagery is impossible to ignore. Whoever signed this off as a marketing concept either didn’t think for a second about the real-world impact, or simply didn’t care.”
“With a platform as large as yours, there is a clear duty to act responsibly. This is entirely foreseeable harm. It’s triggering, insensitive, and frankly reckless to push out as ‘entertainment’ when so many families have been devastated by suicide and self-harm”, she added.
“This needs to be pulled and readdressed immediately. You can promote a show without normalising imagery that could genuinely distress people”, she continued.
The new Ant & Dec podcast is set to launch on January 22 through their new Belta Box brand, and in it they will chat about their lives and take questions and comments from listeners.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health head to thecalmzone.net for practical tips and advice. You can also talk to Samaritans 24/7 by calling 116 123 for free or visiting the Samaritans website. Alternatively, you can find more information and advice on the NHS website.
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