If you lived under a rock during 2017 (can I come too?), it was a year in which various sexual harassers were outed for being awful.
It was a year that the conversation around harassment, power and abuse started to be taken seriously, but it seems like Australian television station Channel Nine — who had its own problems recently, missed the memo.
In a commercial for its upcoming season of Married at First Sight, it featured Dean, a man looking for a woman who will listen to him, and openly wants to be the "man in charge" in the household.
"It's hard to say without sounding sexist or something, but I like a girl that is a girl, and she's girly and that she knows I'm the man in charge," he said.
"Also I want someone that listens to me, and I wanna be the alpha male and she needs to respect me as the man."
Dean wants to be loved, honoured… And obeyed. 🤵 #9Married pic.twitter.com/Lei4aGCXwG
— Married At First Sight Australia (@MarriedAU) December 14, 2017
For those unfamiliar with the show, Married at First Sight matches up couples with the aid of experts, who commit when they first meet.
Not that it matters anymore, because there were plenty of messages angry about the commercial.
It’s amazing that you haven’t learnt a damn thing from 2017.
— Ivana Kovac Kuti (@IKKsays) December 14, 2017
Any man who needs to force a woman to respect and obey him is both a coward and a bully.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) December 14, 2017
Gee, what an exceptional character to give air time to so he can spread his Neanderthal messages - well done, @MarriedAU 🙄
— Kelly McIntyre Hill (@KelmacHill) December 14, 2017
Channel 9. You're not being controversial. You're being complicit.
— Holly (@talkandtea) December 14, 2017
Is this a horror story? Or a true domestic abuse story? I’m not sure we need to see either
— Aimee Maree (@aimee_maree) December 14, 2017
So, fans of the "free market" of speech would say that his view will be refuted.
No, @Channel9 is promoting abusive behaviours in the midst of a domestic violence crisis.
Other men will see this and feel validated.
This is bad. https://t.co/owQHd1Hh1S— Jingle Bells 🎄 (JB) (@JB_AU) December 14, 2017
Just saw that ad for Married At First Sight. Yes, you're supposed to take an instant dislike to that guy for being a total chauvinistic knob. And he is. But it actually makes me dislike Ch9 more for putting him in their show. Post Don Burke. Great look, guys, you really get it.
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 14, 2017
Do better. Just do better.