Chemist Warehouse has received praise for pulling its advertising from the Alan Jones Breakfast Show, following Mr Jones’ remarks about New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern
Last week, Mr Jones attracted significant criticism after he condemned Ms Ardern’s position on climate change, which she expressed at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu.
As well as referring to Ms Ardern as a “complete clown” and later on social media as a “joke” and “utter lightweight,” Mr Jones said on his program that “I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat”.
Mr Jones later said that he had meant to say that Prime Minister Scott Morrison should tell Ms Ardern to “put a sock in it” and apologised for the remarks.
Since then, the ABC has broadcast additional audio from the same day’s program, in which further remarks encouraging violence against Ms Arden feature.
“This lightweight New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is challenging Scott Morrison over climate change,” the new audio says.
“Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders. Hasn’t got a clue, this woman.”
Newly discovered audio shows broadcaster Alan Jones suggested NZ PM Jacinda Ardern should be “backhanded” over her views on climate change.
Mr Jones has already apologised for other comments he made about Ms Arden that same morning. pic.twitter.com/gidlLuheld
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) August 19, 2019
A number of individuals, as well as feminist group Mad F**king Witches and social media activist organisation Sleeping Giants began to campaign to encourage 2GB advertisers to stop supporting Mr Jones’ show.
Chemist Warehouse – alongside 22 former advertisers including A Mart, Snooze, Bing Lee, Volkswagen Australia, Bunnings, Lowe’s Australia, Mercedes Benz and Big W – has now pulled its advertising.
“Thanks for your feedback, Chemist Warehouse can confirm it has, as of Monday 19th August, withdrawn advertising on the Alan Jones Breakfast Show,” the discount giant wrote to Mad F**king Witches via social media.
“We did it! The one we thought was the hardest nut to crack has now withdrawn from the Alan Jones Breakfast Radio Show!” Mad F**king Witches wrote on Facebook.
“We thought they were rusted on.
“Thank you, Chemist Warehouse. Thank you so much for standing up for the women on (sic) Australia.
“For our right to feel safe. For our right to feel that men will not talk about us the way Jones talked about Jacinda Ardern and other women. Thank you!”
The group urged its supporters to thank Chemist Warehouse, and the other former advertisers, for their decision.
Via social media, quite a few people have done so.
Thank you @ChemistWhouse … great to see you supporting all the women who make up a substantial proportion of your customer base.
Putting standards ahead of dollars .
— 💧 Rachel Kollias 🕯 😷 (@RKollias) August 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/Lifetimeban99/status/1163687547144265728
👍👏👏👏 Well done Chemist Warehouse, misogyny has no place in 2019 especially such violent language towards a foreign leader.
— KiKs ~ 😷 (@St_KiKs) August 20, 2019
A spokesperson for Chemist Warehouse declined to comment.