My Kitchen Rules fans want show's latest ad taken down
One thing that brings My Kitchen Rules fans back year after year is controversy, and as this story proves the cooking show doesn’t have to be in season to make headlines.
Fans of the Channel 7 program are calling for the show’s latest advertisement to be axed, accusing the network of stereotyping in its promotion of two Russian contestants.
SNEAK PEEK: "The cold war is here" & this team is bringing the heat! 🇷🇺💪🔥#MKR starts January 29 on @Channel7 pic.twitter.com/AJc8LyUDt9
— #MKR (@mykitchenrules) December 6, 2017
The promo features teammates Olga and Valeria declaring to the camera, “The Cold War is here!” before standing in front of the hammer and sickle, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's (USSR) symbol of communist power.
Fan backlash to the promo has come swiftly.
“I used to really enjoy this show, but as a Russian-Australian, I'm disgusted by this stereotyping,” one Facebook user wrote.
“You are promoting discrimination, vilifying my culture and misappropriating traditional folk songs (yes, folk, not propaganda songs) that are much loved by my family and country. We get enough this stereotyping rubbish everyday already.”
One Twitter user was similarly disgusted, saying: “Channel Seven have you considered that using the hammer and sickle is offensive to the countries who were formerly USSR that dealt with years of suppression. It is banned in many countries and MKR is even shown in some of those countries. Why not use the Russian flag?”
What are your thoughts? Does the ad go too far? Or is it just a bit of fun?