Ben Fordham defends Nine ad but turned down appearance

Ben Fordham rushed to Channel 9’s defence over a TV ad criticised for a lack of diversity, but said he turned down a request to appear in it.

Channel 9 staple Ben Fordham has defended the media organisation’s Covid-19 vaccine advert as “really well done” after it was slammed for a lack of diversity.

The video, which was slathered across social media and TV, featured Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon getting their jabs while a host of other caucasian 9 personalities urged Australians to do the same.

Other employees including Indigenous presenter Brooke Boney and Vietnamese-Australian Tracy Vo were not included in the ad.

Fordham told his 2GB audience on Wednesday morning that the advert was “really well done” but revealed he turned down a request to appear in the video.

“As for the accusation that it is too white, I’m not sure they had a lot of time to put the whole thing together,” he said.

Ben Fordham defended the advert on Wednesday morning. John Feder/The Australian.

“Now I know this because late last week, I was asked to be a part of these ads. With very little notice a camera crew turned up here at 2GB to film my part but I had to explain I didn’t think it was appropriate to appear in the ad because I’m yet to get the jab.

Fordham also suggested 9 should have asked his radio stablemates Ray Hadley and Chris Smith to appear as they had both received their first Covid-19 vaccinations.

“I don’t know how they pulled the thing together so quickly because it was only Friday last week that they were rushing here saying we need to film something with you. Obviously, it was on air Sunday night, so it was done very quickly. I don’t know whether they had time to work out every single person who could or couldn’t be in the ad.”

Indigenous woman Brooke Boney didn’t appear in the ad. Picture: Today/Channel 9

Tracy Vo also didn’t make the cut.

Social media users were quick to point out that 9 could have used the Today show’s Brooke Boney, who is a Gamilaroi/Gomeroi woman, in the ad.

In a sly Twitter response to a question asking if anyone can name any non-white stars from the network, Boney said: “Lol thanks. Good to know I cut through” accompanied with a laughing face emoji.

Channel 10 presenter and Media Diversity Australia co-founder, Antoinette Lattouf, led the criticism on Twitter.

“Yo @Channel9 you missed your shot at looking like you care about the health of anyone who isn’t white #getvaccinated #butonlyifyourewhite,” Lattouf tweeted.

ABC journalist Natasha Mitchell also weighed in.

“So white. Australia is 24 million times more diverse. Do better to represent. Tag line “This is Our Shot” catchy and effective. It could stick,” Mitchell wrote.

In response, Michael Healy, 9 Network’s Director of Television said “As we are in the midst of a global pandemic, 9 Network is continuing to support community awareness regarding Covid and to be informed about the vaccination, this is our shot for Australia to be connected again.

“It is an internal initiative and there will be a number of promos rolled out during this campaign”.