Fans have taken to social media to slam Channel Nine over their upcoming new reality series Shark!
The show sees the likes of The Block’s Scott Cam, influencer Tammy Hembrow, and former soap star Lynne McGranger go head-to-head with predators of the deep.
But angry critics have deemed the format ‘disgraceful’ and ‘distasteful’ in the wake of recent fatal shark attacks in Australia.
‘Watching the ads on Channel Nine for the new shark show airing soon,’ began one viewer on Facebook.
‘Does anyone else find this a bit inappropriate due to the recent record number of attacks?
‘I can’t see the point of the show at all, and all I can think of is the victims’ families. Very distasteful and disrespectful, Channel Nine, just saying.’
Fans have taken to social media to slam Channel Nine over their upcoming new reality series Shark! Pictured: The Block’s Scott Cam joins a cast of celebrities who swim with sharks
‘Depends on what the show is representing,’ another person added on the thread.
‘I hope it is educating people about sharks and how to avoid the possibility of a shark attack. We are sharing this earth and need to educate and respect that!’
A third person commented: ‘Yes, as soon as I saw it, I thought it was disgraceful.’
However, several others in the Facebook group appeared to support the show, with one person posting: ‘There have been multiple shark shows for years.
‘Good and bad. The best way to avoid being upset and [being] triggered by it, would be to choose not to watch it.’
Added another person: ‘Dear Lord, get a grip! Should we stop showing shows that [show] all kinds of accidents?’
The dramatic new reality series, filmed in the Bahamas, is co-helmed by Paul de Gelder, who lost a hand and a foot in a shark attack in 2009.
He co-hosts the show with expert Annie Guttridge.
Join the discussion
Is it insensitive to air a shark reality show after recent attacks, or does it help educate the public?
Online critics have deemed the format ‘disgraceful’ and ‘distasteful’ in the wake of recent fatal shark attacks in Australia. Pictured: Former Home and Away star Lynne McGranger suffered a frightening medical emergency during filming
The dramatic new reality series, filmed in the Bahamas, is co-helmed by Paul de Gelder, who lost a hand and a foot in a shark attack in 2009. Pictured: A scene from Shark!
Nine’s teaser trailer indicates that the format will be ‘educational’.
At one point, ex-Navy diver de Gelder says that his near-fatal encounter with a shark ‘changed his life’.
In another scene from the preview, he warns, ‘Don’t act like food and they won’t treat you like food,’ as the cast watches while dozens of sharks circle their boat.
The celebrity cast also includes Ariarne Titmus, Sam Thaiday, and Matt Nable.
The teaser includes scenes of Home and Away actress Lynne suffering a frightening medical emergency during filming, which forced her to pull out of production.
According to well-placed production insiders, executives at Nine Network were so concerned about the seriousness of the incident that they privately sought Lynne’s blessing before allowing the footage to make the final edit.
It is understood Lynne had a ‘physical reaction’ during a dive with the sharks. The situation escalated rapidly, and she was airlifted before being taken to hospital.
Images obtained exclusively by Daily Mail show Lynne being pulled from the water, while another shows her using an oxygen mask.
Shark! premieres Sunday, May 31 at 7pm on Nine and 9Now.
