Donuts that leave a bad taste in the mouth

I was watching the TV last night when an advertisement for Donut King appeared on the screen. It was one of those weird drifting text and bright colours sort of ads, only moderately offensive. Or so I thought - for five seconds in the middle of this garish landscape of eye-blasting pink, none other than Pauline Hanson graced the screen, endorsing the fine doughy goodness. Then the ad continued for a while as though nothing had happened...
It took a little while for me to process this. I had to confirm with Ann that what I saw actually happened. Her face was a mixture of confusion and horror, and I needed no further proof than that...

Pauline Hanson seems a strange choice to give an endorsement. Even if you supported her, most people view her with contempt, their opinions of her ranging from idiot to criminal to racist nut.
On the same night, we witnessed One Nation founder David Oldfield alongside moderately well-known celebs on Survivor.

At what point did Hanson and her ilk achieve acceptable celebrity status? Are things so desperate that bigots behind past controversies have to be dredged up to inpsire commerce? Perhaps people have forgiven or forgotten the things that these people represent. I sure haven't.

As Ann put it, "I can't buy donuts from a white supremacist." Neither can I. I'm afraid they just don't taste very good when sprinkled with racism.

Tristan Miller