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Channel 5 Apologise After 'Body Bag' Wonga Advert Follows Whitney Houston Trailer

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 19/02/2012 14:51 Updated: 20/02/2012 13:28

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Channel 5 have apologised after a potentially inappropriate advert followed a trailer for a programme about the death of singer Whitney Houston.

The ad for Wonga.com, in which a puppet speaks the line "she looks better in a body bag", was shown immediately after the trailer for a 'Whitney's Addictions: Death Of A Diva', to be broadcast this week.

The tagline for the Wonga ads is "straight talking money without the drama".

Twitter users reacted angrily to the blunder, with one saying it showed a "lack of respect" for the singer.

Channel 5 have today (Monday) issued a statement, expressing their regret for the timing of the advert, with their spokesperson saying:

"We apologise if any viewers were offended by the proximity of the promotional trail for Channel 5's Whitney Houston documentary and an advert . This was an unfortunate oversight and we have taken the appropriate steps to ensure that this does not happen again."

Whitney Houston died in Los Angeles last week, and her funeral was held on Saturday.

Take a look at the video, above.

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Channel 5 have apologised after a potentially inappropriate advert followed a trailer for a programme about the death of singer Whitney Houston. The ad for Wonga.com, in which a puppet speaks the l...
Channel 5 have apologised after a potentially inappropriate advert followed a trailer for a programme about the death of singer Whitney Houston. The ad for Wonga.com, in which a puppet speaks the l...
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thesoupdragon
15 Fans
09:56 PM on 02/21/2012
I've had Tivo for years so F/F through ads, so I just seen this clip and pee'd myself laughing. I watched it over and over again. Someone at channel has got a wicked sence of humour.
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AlanDente
Noses: made to hold glasses
196 Fans
09:39 PM on 02/21/2012
Bit of a non-story.

Channel 5 provide 'entertainment'. That's their business. Not to worry about the feelings of the fans of the latest famous person to die.

If people want nice but ultimately empty platitudes for the dead then I'm sure the CofE will oblige. TV stations can get on with spamming our brains full of adverts for stuff we don't need.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Donald J Sullivan
Monetary Reform Now
156 Fans
09:17 PM on 02/20/2012
I personally have wiped all TV media from my life. My programs are recorded to fast forward through commercials and my news comes from the net. I would recommend this approach to the masses. We have entered a new century why are we allowing ourselves to be bombarded by these depressing , manipulative commercials and, news that actually is only opinion!,
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Paul Houston
British and a London resident
348 Fans
08:44 PM on 02/20/2012
Nothing would surprise me about Channel 5, was there any protests about this at the "Express" or the "Star"
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Vila Restal
15 Fans
08:02 PM on 02/20/2012
Yep!! Another great Advertising campaign by Channel 5, the same people that brought you a poster for "The Walking Dead" on the side on a Funeral Parlout :-)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GingerlyColors
No will to change it, no right to criticize it
72 Fans
06:06 PM on 02/20/2012
As soon as a disaster happens or a famous person dies the sick jokes start. I regularly post comments on another news website where someone placed a joke in poor taste about Whitney Houston who, as we remember starred in a film called 'The Bodyguard' which went down like a lead balloon with other users of the site. Please give people like Whitney Houston and her fans and family a break and show a bit of respect for the dead.
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lokiesteve
72 Fans
02:12 PM on 02/20/2012
Should have put anti drug ads on.
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haparrkye
0 Fans
01:32 PM on 02/20/2012
well that was an oops moment if ever there was one
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snotty
1 Fans
10:49 AM on 02/20/2012
I'm not a big fan of the wonga ad's, but this ad is on at least half a dozen times a day and at no other time during the day is it offensive so why this time. I can't see what all the fuss is about, harden up and stop taking everything so seriously, our lives will be so censored soon we won't be able to say or do anything in our own homes without being judged. Speaking of judgement, Whitney would be getting hers now
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Ryan Noh
17 Fans
04:22 PM on 02/20/2012
You can't see what all the fuss is about? Are you that mundane? You don't have to be offended, but you do have to laugh you butt off or I can't say you have a pulse or are able to feel anything.
Can you explain another scenario when this ad comes up? It's so perfectly timed :D
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pduck321
30 Fans
09:19 AM on 02/20/2012
Cannot understand what all the fuss is about ... she was a woman of substance ... no respect ...
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madphil2011
16 Fans
02:23 PM on 02/21/2012
Think that you omitted the 'abuse' deliberately ..?
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sparkx
0 Fans
08:10 AM on 02/20/2012
bad taste, but I hold my hands up and say it did make me snigger
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Olaf TheHairy
0 Fans
07:47 AM on 02/20/2012
A ghastly advert featuring some of creepiest looking puppets since the Kinda 'Egg' man from the eighties. There's no way the numpties at Channel Five scheduling can deny this advert wasn't deliberately placed. Either that or they don't screen adverts for content in relation to the programmes it breaks up. Either way - this advert should be pulled since all these quick loan type companies are just legalised loan sharks.
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MsBubblyBlonde
Sassy,brassy,kiss my assy.
178 Fans
07:44 AM on 02/20/2012
She was fortunate enough to have a fantastic voice which entitled her to a super star lifestyle.However the world does not revolve around Whitney Houston.
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hayleebugsmith
70 Fans
10:23 PM on 02/20/2012
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT!!! Now I wish we could all go on and not talk about this for 6 more months. Whitney or the Kardashians-OMG- please enough is enough. I hope that her death was natural causes, or we will have another MJ / Dr. trial to hear about. She was an adult and she knew what she was doing. I'm just saying.
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smnalex
0 Fans
07:42 AM on 02/20/2012
how can anyone say it shows a lack of respect for Whitney Houston? She showed herself no respect by pumping herself full of drugs.

If all adverts were banned or withdrawn because they offended someone then we would probably get rid of all advertising. We need to end tghis culture in which we live and people need to learn to grow up and understand that sometimes things are said and done that they may not like or agree with.


Well I've got news for you all this is what is called life. get used to it and learn.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hayleebugsmith
70 Fans
10:26 PM on 02/20/2012
That's our POLITICALY CORRECT SOCIETY!! I totally agree with you.
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wAdrian
94 Fans
05:39 AM on 02/20/2012
I cant stand the "Wonga " adverts and I pity anyone driven to borrow money from these misery parasites , Borrow one hundred pounds and have to to give em one hundred twenty five back at the end of thirty days Ahggggggggg !
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mirola
Read between the lines
39 Fans
07:08 AM on 02/20/2012
Legalized lone sharks. US firms that use a certain loophole in UK law. This stuff should be stopped a.s.a.p, as it only makes matters worse, not better.
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wAdrian
94 Fans
09:50 AM on 02/20/2012
In USA congress had to pass a bill to limit the % these creatures were charging, They often set up at the gates of US military establishments to milk the service men/women
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