In yet another example of social media’s power, Channel Ten has had to backtrack on a tweet about Aussie tennis player Bernard Tomic’s exit from the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! jungle.
Tomic sensationally quit the show last night, saying his short stint in the jungle was a “wake-up call” for him to pick up the racquet again and return to the tennis court.
“I don’t want to spend half my time depressed here and thinking about how I played the last year and where I should be,” he said.
But it was a tweet sent out by Ten minutes after Tomic’s departure on-air that caught the attention of viewers – and not for the right reasons.
Some described it as “disgraceful”, while others called out the broadcaster over its general treatment of the troubled tennis player.
“This tweet is bloody disgraceful. Clearly the time for him to have some arms wrapped around him and given help not publicly mocked by the channel that put him there,” one viewer fumed.
“Disgraceful tweet. I’m no fan of his, but you seem to have either made a real error putting this kid on… or, you did it on purpose knowing the train wreck that could ensue. Either way, shame on you,” another wrote.
Australia: “Why won’t young men open up about how they feel or reach out for help?”
Tomic on national television says: “I am depressed” and *leaves a high stress situation because it wasn’t helping him*
Australia: “Flog” “Quitter”
?????#ImACelebrityAU #TomicWalks
— Casey Sims (@caseysims_) January 30, 2018
Terribly irresponsible behaviour by @ImACelebrityAU and @channelten . Bernard Tomic clearly not in a fit state to be on the show- where was the due diligence? He did the right thing to leave #tomicwalks https://t.co/HnmjuR6ZH5
— Vlado Perkovic (@VladoPerkovic) January 30, 2018
Ten bowed to the negative pressure and deleted the tweet soon after, but its recovery was also criticised.
Changed your tact here a bit @channelten you flogs, deleted your earlier tweet bullying someone with depression, all for a few likes on the internet!! If you aren’t part of the solution you are part of the problem.
— Mitch Waring (@skippywaring) January 30, 2018
