Mattress merchants Koala and gym chain Anytime Fitness are the latest brands to pull their advertising from Alan Jones‘ radio show, after the shock jock suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison “should shove a sock down the throat” of Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardern.
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Taking to Twitter this morning, a Koala spokesperson said the company has pulled its “significant” ad spend on Jones’ 2GB Breakfast Show due to his comments.
Koala has cut ties with Alan Jones. We’re a significant buyer in the medium, and it’s something we should have done earlier. Climate change is real, violence against women starts with words and the bloke has had too many chances. @2GB873 time to wake up.
— Koala (@KoalaMattress) August 19, 2019
That stance has been mirrored by Anytime Fitness, who said their ads have been removed from the show with “no further advertising planned with the station.”
Mumbrella has identified at least eight other brands, including ME Bank and furniture chain Snooze, who say they are reevaluating their advertising spend on the 78-year-old’s show.
The backlash kicked off when Jones used last Thursday’s show to joke that Morrison to silence Ardern at the Pacific Islands Forum for her outspoken stance Australia’s use of coal-powered energy generation.
Advocacy group Sleeping Giants suggested Jones’ comments were just the latest in a long string of weird, misogynist comments from the broadcaster, and encouraged listeners to voice their disapproval to the show’s advertisers.
It’s early days, but it appears the pressure has prompted statements from 2GB and Jones himself.
On Saturday, the Maquarie Media head honcho Russell Tate said “any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of [Jones’] contract.”
Jones also said he wrote to Ardern to apologise, saying his comments were “careless” and that he “erred and made a mistake.” In an on-air statement, Jones said he was misinterpreted.
This morning Alan Jones doubled down full Trump style on his comments on Jacinda Ardern.
Bloody Fake Social Media – NO APOLOGY – Alternative Facts#SendaSock to Peter Costello chairman of the Nine Entertainment board.#Auspol @2GB873 + @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/JlAdlNjG4c
— ☮️💧 Sleeping Giants Oz 📣 (@slpng_giants_oz) August 16, 2019
Ardern is hardly the first woman in power to face crook comments from Jones. Who could forget the time he suggested former Prime Minister Julia Gillard‘s father “died of shame”?
Watch this space for further advertising drop-outs.
