Coles halts advertising with 2GB over Alan Jones’ Jacinda Ardern comments

Coles has confirmed it’s no longer advertising on 2GB in the wake of Alan Jones’ Ardern comments.

Coles will no longer advertise on Macquarie Media’s 2GB following the controversial comments made by Alan Jones about New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

Coles has confirmed it is no longer advertising on Macquarie Media’s Sydney station 2GB following the controversial comments made by breakfast host Alan Jones about New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

A spokesman for Coles told The Australian it stopped advertising on Jones’ program on August 16, and has since ceased advertising on 2GB.

“Coles values diversity, respect and actively promotes the rights of all of our team members and our customers,” the spokesman said. “We stopped advertising on the Alan Jones program on Friday 16th August and have subsequently stopped advertising on 2GB.”

It is not clear whether Coles has any further plans to advertise on the network at a later date. Macquarie Media has been approached for comment.

Read more: Radio boss threatens to sack Alan Jones after remarks | Advertisers drop 2GB after Alan Jones’ Ardern comments | CBA puts Jones on notice | Jones socks it to rivals despite the drama

Coles is one of a number of Australian brands to express concern over Jones’ comments made on August 15.

Macquarie Media, which is in the midst of a takeover by Nine Entertainment, threatened to sack Jones after he called Ms Arden a “joke” in remarks relating to Australia and the Pacific on climate change, and suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat” and should get tough with a “few backhanders”.

Advertiser backlash comes months after Jones signed a two-year, $4 million-a-year contract with Macquarie Media.

Last week Jones said he had “no comment” about advertisers pulling from the station, and said he was the victim of a “vicious” social media campaign.

Other brands to confirm they are no longer advertising with Macquarie Media or on Jones’ program this week include Godreys, Renault Australia, IKEA and Guzman y Gomez, which had their ads appear on the network through a booking made with Australian Traffic Network.

Last Friday, Commonwealth Bank put Jones and Macquarie Media on notice over the comments, arguing it was “dismayed” by the offensive comments the broadcaster made about New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

IGA, Hyundai, Chemist Warehouse, Anytime Fitness, Koala, Accor Hotels and Nick Scali Furniture also withdrew advertising spend in the wake of his comments.

But despite the advertiser backlash, Jones remained the leading breakfast broadcaster in Sydney, according to the latest radio ratings survey.

Macquarie Media was hit by an audience decline, down 0.6 points, but remained the Sydney leader on a 13.4 per cent share of audience.

Jones and his colleagues Ray Hadley, Steve Price and Ben Fordham all had falls in audience during the survey period, from May 26 to June 29 and July 14 to August 17.

The 2GB breakfast slot ended on a 17.1 per cent share, which included­ the day Jones made his comments about Ms Ardern, down 0.3 points.

Nine, which inherited its 54.5 per cent controlling stake in Macquarie Media following its $4 billion merger with Fairfax Media in December, made a $1.46-a-share offer in cash to buy the rest of the radio group almost two weeks ago.