Chemist Warehouse pulls advertising from 2GB’s breakfast show with Alan Jones
Chemist Warehouse has pulled its ads from Jones’ show following his comments on Jacinda Ardern.
Chemist Warehouse is the latest brand to pull advertising from Macquarie Media’s 2GB breakfast show with Alan Jones.
This afternoon the brand confirmed it had, as of Monday, withdrawn advertising from the show.
Chemist Warehouse’s response follows decisions by Anytime Fitness Australia and Koala, to pull advertising spend from 2GB after breakfast host Alan Jones made offensive comments about New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern.
In a series of messages on social media site Twitter this afternoon, Chemist Warehouse responded to concerned consumers, confirming it had withdrawn advertising spend.
Thanks @david_vallance. Chemist Warehouse can confirm it has, as of Monday 19th August, withdrawn advertising on the Alan Jones Breakfast Show
— Chemist Warehouse (@ChemistWhouse) August 20, 2019
Over the weekend, Macquarie Media, which is in the midst of a takeover by Nine Entertainment Co, threatened to sack Jones after he called Ms Arden a “joke” in remarks relating to Australia and the Pacific on climate change.
He also said Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat” and should get tough with a “few backhanders”.
On Nine News this evening, Jones said he would not comment on the advertisers which had withdrawn spend.
“I’ve got no comment about the advertisers, they can may their own judgement. – but they go, there will be others to take their place,” Jones said.
Instead, he said he was the victim of a “vicious” social media campaign.
“The language being used about me is extraordinary,” he said.
The Australian has confirmed Media Watch received a call from a producer on Alan Jones’ show regarding a clip that was aired, but had not received a written complaint yet.
Other brands to pull advertising spend include Lowes Australia, ME Bank, which said the comments did not reflect their values, as well as Snooze and Bing Lee. Computer repair company Geeks2U has also pulled advertising spend, as has TripADeal and Palmers Glass.
Koala, which produces mattresses, pillows and sofas and spends millions on radio advertising, said it had “cut ties” with Jones. Anytime Fitness did the same, arguing the comments did not represent the company’s view or values.
Macquarie Media has been approached for comment.
Nine, which inherited its 54.5 per cent controlling stake in Macquarie Media following its $4 billion merger with Fairfax Media in December, last Monday offered $1.46 a share in cash to buy the rest of the radio group.
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