KFC’s Summer Session radio show presented by Meatfree Monday supporter Pat Cash
A chicken-related message on the Meatless Monday Facebook page
Days after appointing former PETA supporter and vegetarian Benji Madden as its spokesman, KFC is to have its sponsored radio show co-hosted by tennis legend Pat Cash who is campaigning for the public not to eat meat on Mondays.
Cash, the former Wimbledon champion, is to co-host the KFC Summer Session drivetime show on Triple M.
The announcement of Cash for the KFC-sponsored show comes shortly after he was named as a celebrity supporter of Meatfree Monday – a campaign to persuade people to eat less meat.
From next Monday, Triple M’s KFC Summer Session will air from 4pm to 6pm weekdays with Adam Gilchrist, Mark Bosnich and Tony Squires. Cash will take over from Bosnich in January when the tennis season begins.
The new show was announced on Triple M this morning. It will air in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Last week, Cash was reported to have “taken the Meat Free Mondays Australia pledge” along with Richard Branson and Maggie Beer.
From the Meatless Monday website
In a statement announcing the KFC Summer Session, Nikki Lawson, chief marketing officer of KFC Australia said: “KFC is excited to be part of the Triple M Summer Session program. Given our long term sponsorship of cricket and our summer ‘good times’ campaign, it’s a perfect partnership and a great way to celebrate the Aussie summer.”
Meanwhile, Triple M’s director of Sydney sales Nick Randall said in the announcement: “The KFC Summer Session is a fantastic example of creating on-air opportunities for clients that make sense both for their needs and our brands.”
It appears that the deal for the show to be fronted by Cash and the other sports stars may have taken place at the last minute. A previous description of the show which has been removed from the Triple M website although it is still cached on Google says: “Summer is finally here! We reckon the best things about it are having a few ice cold drinks with mates, BBQs, the beach and of course cricket. Join Dan Ginnane, Rachel Corbett and HG Nelson for the KFC Summer Sessions on Triple M, weekday arvos from 4pm.” (Update: Triple M says this referred to last year’s show.)
Meatless Monday is part of a global movement started in the US and endorsed by the likes of vegetarian Paul McCartney. Rather than calling for all meat eating to stop, it calls for moderation.
Meatless Monday’s facebook cover shot
Last week, KFC unveiled its Good Times campaign as the centre of its summer marketing plan, with the content fronted by the Maden brothers whose band Good Charlotte is reported to have previously demonstrated on behalf of activist organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
KFC initially said it had been assured that the Maddens had never been vegetarians or associated with PETA. Today a new version of the statement said they had been assured they were not currently vegtearians or PETA supports.
2.15pm update: KFC said in a statement to Mumbrella:
“We were aware and have absolutely no issue with Pat Cash pledging his support for Meatless Monday. We have always stood by the fact that KFC is an occasional treat that can be enjoyed as a part of a balanced lifestyle. We do not expect people associated with our brand to eat chicken every day of the week.”
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Wait – isn’t chicken a type of meat? I don’t see a qualifier saying no ‘RED’ meat.
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Time to fire the joke of an agency you are working with KFC…
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This is a little confusing, so are KFC supporting us to boycott their products on Monday’s? seems like a counterproductive sponsorship to me, last time i checked chicken came from an animal…
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All Pat wants is a little more Cash.
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I see vegetarian recipes all the time that call for eggs and cheese, two commodities very much animal related. I had a friend in the dark ages who claimed to be a vegetarian to the core, yet he ate fish! Whatever you want to call fish, they are hardly vegetables.
Meatless Monday means that you get to eat meat six days a week, and should not be confused with Meet-less Mondays, which is a new office practice, designed to prevent having to crowd into the board room with a pad, pen and a cup of coffee, first thing in the morning of the first day back after a weekend of barbecuing meat and boozing.
KFC still serves vegetables, though I personally lament the passing of the squeaky bean mix, and therefore (largely via chips and coleslaw) it is possible to shop at KFC and be a part of the Meatless Monday brigade.
It is just a matter of flexibility .
Oh , by the way, chicken is meat………. so is fish.
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Much as I’m not a fan of KFC and am enjoying a bit of a giggle at their expense, I have to say that in the case, a large part of the blame belongs on their spokespeople. I think it’s terrible that Benji Madden and Pat Cash are willing to be so loose with their morals – one minute they are supporting PETA and asking the nation to eat less meat, and the next minute they are endorsing one of the worst offenders of bad animal treatment. It just goes to show that these guys don’t really care about the causes they support, as they are clearly willing to jump on any bandwagon for cash.
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Wanted Marketing Manager KFC. KPI able to back ground checks on spokes people.
Apply in Joined up writing…
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Okay I get it KFC. Not chicken on Mondays. No problem.
Does nobody at KFC know how to google?
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Just goes to show that vegetarians and vegans have no morals – and no brains.
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@Christine
Hang on a second; Eat less meat doesn’t equal the message of the “Meat is Murder Mob” One may support a meat works and still agree that eating less meat is a good idea.
I am very much in favour of good scotch whiskey, yet I detest drunks and drunkenness.
I support boxing as a sport and even as an art form, but I detest physical violence.
Surely a fellow can support Meatless Monday and still enjoy a chop at the weekend barbecue?
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