{"id":2703,"date":"2026-01-17T13:53:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T13:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=2703"},"modified":"2026-01-17T13:53:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T13:53:32","slug":"ant-and-dec-apologise-after-major-backlash-over-triggering-podcast-advert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=2703","title":{"rendered":"Ant and Dec apologise after major backlash over \u2018triggering\u2019 podcast advert"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Warning: this article contains mention of suicide that some people may find distressing.
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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 \u201ctriggering\u201d.<\/p>\n

Following major backlash, the promo clip for their new podcast was taken down, after it was labelled as \u201cpoor taste\u201d.<\/p>\n

And now the presenters have apologised and confirmed the advert had been pulled, in a statement issued to Metro.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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\u201d, they said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The pair are known for presenting shows such as I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here, Britain\u2019s Got Talent and their own show, Ant & Dec\u2019s Saturday Night Takeaway.<\/p>\n


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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The controversial opening shots of the now-deleted promo
(Image: X)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The imagery was considered as \u201ctriggering\u201d by some users on X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n

Even though the video shows that they\u2019re on a clothesline, according to many, the first shot was in poor taste.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys rarely get your PR wrong, but this???? The imagery will be triggering for many\u201d, one X user noted.<\/p>\n

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You boys rarely get your PR wrong, but this???? The imagery will be triggering for many<\/p>\n

\u2014 Gabrielle (@Gabbaranks) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

While another one commented \u201cWho signed off on the start of this ad\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mental health advocate and former X Factor contestant, Katie Waissel, wrote that \u201cThis opening visual of feet suspended above the ground is not a harmless \u2018play on words\u2019 , it immediately reads as someone hanging, and the suicide imagery is impossible to ignore. Whoever signed this off as a marketing concept either didn\u2019t think for a second about the real-world impact, or simply didn\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a platform as large as yours, there is a clear duty to act responsibly. This is entirely foreseeable harm. It\u2019s triggering, insensitive, and frankly reckless to push out as \u2018entertainment\u2019 when so many families have been devastated by suicide and self-harm\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m going to be blunt because this \u2018creative direction\u2019 is genuinely sickening and deeply disappointing.<\/p>\n

This opening visual of feet suspended above the ground is not a harmless \u201cplay on words\u201d , it immediately reads as someone hanging, and the suicide imagery is impossible to\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Katie Waissel (@katiewaissel24) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cThis needs to be pulled and readdressed immediately. You can promote a show without normalising imagery that could genuinely distress people\u201d, she continued.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/em><\/p>\n

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