Shark! will continue to air in Sydney despite the harrowing Coogee Beach shark attack this weekend.
The Channel Nine reality series, which stars influencer Tammy Hembrow and sees celebrities come face to face with great whites, went ahead as planned on Sunday evening, with the network defending their decision not to change the schedule.
The series was not screened in Perth following the death of Steven Mattaboni, who was killed by a shark on May 16, but a similar concession was not made for Sydney.
‘The series focuses on education and turning fear into respect,’ a Channel Nine spokesperson told Yahoo! Lifestyle on Monday.
‘Guided by former Australian Navy clearance diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder alongside shark researcher Annie Guttridge, the show follows six Australian celebrities as they confront their deepest fears,’ they continued.
‘By providing them with first-hand experience and insight, the show aims to educate viewers and demonstrate how awareness of a shark’s natural behaviours helps us remain informed.’
Shark! will continue to air in Sydney despite the harrowing Coogee Beach shark attack this weekend. the reality show stars Tammy Hembrow (right)
It follows a shark attack on Sydney beach on Saturday. Leah Stewart, 35, (pictured) was about 30m from the shore at Coogee Beach, in the city’s eastern suburbs, when she was attacked by a great white shark on Saturday morning
The decision comes despite outrage from viewers, who have aired their grievances on social media.
‘Disgusting that you even screened this show after the awful shark attack on a woman on Saturday at Coogee!’ raged one person in the comments section on Nine’s official Instagram page.
‘Pretty stupid making people do this sort of thing,’ another person complained.
Over on X, the comments were also scathing.
‘Channel Nine broadcasting Shark! just as a woman has been attacked and critically injured at Coogee Beach – guess I’ll watch MasterChef,’ posted one person.
Another said: ‘Shark! didn’t go to air in Perth due to a fatal shark attack there, so it should be pulled from the Nine Sydney schedule as well.
‘That Shark! hasn’t rated too well should make that decision considerably easier!’
Shark! has faced scrutiny since its premiere, with some viewers sharing concerns that the series is ‘distasteful’ in light of recent shark deaths.
‘The series focuses on education and turning fear into respect,’ a Channel Nine spokesperson told Yahoo! Lifestyle on Monday
The series was not screened in Perth following the death of Steven Mattaboni, who was killed by a shark on May 16, but a similar concession was not made for Sydney
‘Does anyone else find this a bit inappropriate due to the recent record number of attacks?’ wrote one viewer on Facebook.
‘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.’
Another person commented: ‘Yes, as soon as I saw it, I thought it was disgraceful.’
‘Maybe not the best time to glamourise sharks for entertainment when a Perth family is grieving,’ said one person, referring to the recent fatal shark attack off Rottnest Island.
‘This show should be cancelled in respect for the many people recently who have lost their lives,’ said another.
It follows a shark attack on Sydney beach on Saturday.
Leah Stewart, 35, was about 30m from the shore at Coogee Beach, in the city’s eastern suburbs, when she was attacked by a great white shark on Saturday morning.
Stewart has had her arm amputated and is fighting for her life, her brother has revealed.
