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Todd’s t-shirts cause a stir

Todd Sampson's ‘I love Sarah Palin’ triggered heated debate from some viewers -but others loved it.

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The Gruen Transfer‘s Todd Sampson is known for his unique t-shirts he wears on the show.

But last week his attire triggered heated debate from some viewers.

He wore an ‘I love Sarah Palin’ t-shirt.

An ABC spokesperson told TV Tonight,” We got lots of people ring up complaining and Facebook and Twitter comments.”

One woman called the ABC switchboard in Sydney to say “I find Todd’s I love Sarah Palin t-shirt is offensive” and hung up. Another said. “I will NOT watch Gruen until Todd is removed from the ABC for THAT shirt. He is a left wing hypocrite.”

“People perhaps hadn’t realised that Todd had won a similar tee shirt with the image of Sarah Palin brandishing a machine gun last season,” the spokesperson said.

But one viewer is so devoted to Sampson’s wardrobe they have set up a fan site, which archives his entire on-screen collection.

 

31 Responses

  2. I’m not offended by the shirts but for a guy with such a “hip” image, he is wearing t-shirts that were sooo from the late 90’s early 00’s era.

  4. I guess The Age Green Guide’s letter page will now be overflowing over this non-event. (seriously, why is this an issue?) Still I guess it gives the Green Guide’s letter writers something different to complain about other than Red Symons, Kate Draper (Melbourne radio newsreader who clearly some love but some don’t), some guy called “Macca” or some presenter on ABCFM.

  5. What exactly where they offended by? By the idea that someone could actually love Palin or did they actually get the irony, and were offended because he was really mocking her?

  6. Thankfully some people see the irony of an ad guy who appears on an show about ads wearing t-shirts that are about marketing people and products … the program peels back the manipulation behind adverising and that’s why it’s successful, and yes, the panelists who appear do reflect the types who work in advertising. So that runs the gamut of smug, confident, creative and funny. Sometimes in the one person!

  8. @ Madame Tango & Gwen –

    hmm. I think you’re onto something! Yes please. 😀

    And; people complain for no reason. Some would have been serious, others just ’cause they could. All of them should be taken seriously, though – they have the right to complain just about as much as anyone. In the end though, it is of no issue, thus (rightly) the complaints would be taken no further.

    I like his shirts. But I don’t think he should wear them. At all. 😉

  13. I read that comment as “I won’t watch Gruen until Todd is removed from that shirt!” (I’d vote for that). Todd’s shirt’s are one of the highlights of the show – they are always different and often irreverant. If you don’t get Todd or his shirts then why the heck are you watching Gruen?

  15. I can’t believe that there are people so dumb they can’t see when they’re being played like this. By a guy who makes his living through advertising, and on a show where he tells them how it’s done! And these people are allowed to vote…

    I often chuckle over Sampson’s shirts, they’re always entertaining, and anyone who takes them seriously needs to engage their brains and get a clue!

  16. If you are so thin skinned that you are offended by a stupid slogan on a stupid t-shirt worn by a semi stupid talking head on a semi stupid TV show; then maybe you need to hide yourself away from society – because there are Way more offensive things out there.

  22. So he wore a T-Shirt saying he loved someone, big deal.
    How pathetic that some people feel that they have to ring up and complain.
    Get a life folks, you are really pathetic.

  23. He’s actually the only one creative enough to become a walking billboard. Funny that on a show revolving around advertising. Irony certainly is lost on some people.

    In saying that.. there is something about him that has always annoyed me. He comes off as very pretentious sometimes

  24. Wow. A country where a few decades ago a leading politician ran with the slogan “Keep the Bastards Honest” and we now get offended by Todds T Shirts? Australia, where have we gone wrong? Lolza.

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