Channel 4 under fire for ‘sick joke’ advert which uses Southport killer’s mugshot to plug new shows: ‘Really disappointed’
Channel 4 has sparked fury after using Southport killer Axel Rudakubana’s mugshot in a Facebook advertisement promoting the broadcaster’s shows.
The controversial advert featured a photograph of the convicted murderer alongside text reading “More of the shows you love, more of the shows you will love. Stream now on Channel 4.”
The advertisement contained a link to a Channel 4 news special about the case, titled Southport Killer Sentenced.
Rudakubana was convicted for the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport in July 2024, as well as the attempted murder of 10 others.
Patrick Hurley, the Labour MP for Southport, expressed his outrage on social media after discovering Channel 4 had actively targeted Southport residents with the advertisement.
He posted on X: “I’m really disappointed to see @Channel4 actively promote this image to Southport residents on Facebook, by buying ads targeting them.”
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Hurley called for the broadcaster to stop the campaign, adding: “And as for the text in the post – ‘More of the shows you love, more of the shows you will love. Stream now on Channel 4′ – is this some sort of sick joke?”
The MP subsequently filed a complaint about the advert with broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.
Channel 4 has since apologised and removed the photograph from the advert following the backlash.
GB News has contacted Channel 4 for a comment.
Ofcom confirmed that Hurley had filed a complaint about the advertisement with the broadcasting regulator.
The watchdog commented: “Decisions on how news is covered, including the choice of images, is an editorial matter for broadcasters.”
The incident has highlighted concerns about how broadcasters promote sensitive news content on social media platforms.
Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in January for the horrific attack.
Recent reports have revealed that despite throwing scorching water over a prison guard last month.
The killer is allegedly still allowed to purchase treats such as Maltesers and crisps in his southeast London prison.
A source told The Sun that Rudakubana has been “spending £5.50 a week” since the attack and is allowed to buy “anything he likes, as long as it’s not dangerous”.
Since the incident, he has been placed on a “basic” level of treatment, losing access to television and having his time out of his cell restricted.