A new tourism ad designed to entice Brits into booking an Australian getaway is being criticised by Australians for ignoring the current state of the country, which continues to be ravaged by bushfires.
https://twitter.com/Australia/status/1209852669281669122
The “Mate Song” ad stars Australia’s pop princess Kylie Minogue, as well as comedian Adam Hills and cricketer Shane Warne, and depicts Australia as a great, relaxing place to tune out the woes of the real world, and is aimed directly at cashed-up, stressed out Brits who are sick to death of hearing about Brexit everyday.
Did we mention the ad is also very, very white? It’s very, very white.
https://twitter.com/redrabbleroz/status/1209977679140675584
https://twitter.com/drcbond/status/1209997726005415936
https://twitter.com/MagazineAmplify/status/1210109354646503424
https://twitter.com/Vic_Rollison/status/1209986778527977472
https://twitter.com/incrediblemelk/status/1210014925449355264
At one point in “Mate Song”, Kylie reclines on a beach chair, singing: “We can turn off the news, and you can kick off your shoes.”
Although OG Neighbours fans will be excited to see Kylie dressed as her character Charlene once again, critics of the ad were quick to point out that Australia hasn’t exactly been the peaceful refuge it’s being made out to be, recently.
https://twitter.com/LlewellynDerran/status/1209895961687928832
https://twitter.com/adam_voigt/status/1210361423785865216
Many people have called out the ad’s unfortunate timing, noting the ongoing bushfires, decimation of the koala population, high temperatures and drought conditions that Australians are continuing to face.
https://twitter.com/PhilippaBateman/status/1210373645828153344
https://twitter.com/DangerousMere/status/1210308174470762496
https://twitter.com/maxblackhole/status/1209987375331364864
https://twitter.com/margo694/status/1209973052479393795
And a few pointed out that Kylie and Adam don’t actually live here, even if they still call Australia home.
https://twitter.com/kezincanberra/status/1210003894077517824
https://twitter.com/Darrenjca/status/1209930041506664448
https://twitter.com/mishyloan/status/1210025210713239557
https://twitter.com/deniseshrivell/status/1210083747002904576
Ahh… at least the quokkas are still cute???
