Former Married At First Sight star Dean Wells has reinvented himself as a politically incorrect social critic since his time on the show.
And in his latest rant, the outraged reality star has taken aim at ABC journalist Beverly Wang who called for more diversity in the children’s cartoon Bluey.
Wells, 43, posted screenshots of an ABC article that said the cartoon needed more ‘disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families’.
Speaking out: Dean Wells has taken aim at ABC journalist Beverly Wang after she called for more diversity in the children’s cartoon Bluey
Clearly inflamed by the calls for more representation, he wrote: ‘This woman is being paid by your tax dollars to write this absolute drivel. Do better.’
Wells continued: ‘And they wonder why people call for defunding of the ABC. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. They are dogs FFS. Dogs don’t have jobs or stereotypical ethnic accents.’
In a post later that day, he shared a photo of a dark coloured dog swimming in Manly and jokingly captioned it: ‘Diversity matters’.
‘Absolute drivel!’ Wells, 43, posted screenshots of an ABC article that said the cartoon needed more ‘disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families’
Earlier this week, Beverley Wang slammed Bluey’s lack of diversity in a piece for the national broadcaster’s own Everyday website, where she opened-up about her ‘struggles’ with the Emmy award-winning show.
She asked why Bluey, set in Brisbane, was not ‘more representative’ of the city it is based in, while acknowledging her comments ‘may come across as asking too much of a show that’s already so tender, nuanced and joyful’.
‘Where are the disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families in Bluey’s Brisbane?,’ wrote Ms Wang, who describes herself on her Twitter profile as an ‘Asian female broadcaster’.
‘If they’re in the background, let them come forward. (Maynard, voiced by Sean Choolburra, I’m looking at you.)’
Wells continued: ‘And they wonder why people call for defunding of the ABC. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. They are dogs FFS. Dogs don’t have jobs or stereotypical ethnic accents’
Mr Choolburra is a Girramay, Kalkadoon, Pitta Pitta and Gugu Yalanji man, who voices the character of Maynard, which is described as a ‘small role’ in the series.
Ms Wang said as a parent of colour, she was ‘conscious of the presence – or absence – of diverse representation in kids’ pop culture’.
‘We live in a world where the majority of main characters on children’s television are white; where there are more animals than people of colour protagonists populating the pages of children’s books,’ she said.
Journalist Beverley Wang (pictured) penned a piece for the ABC’s Everyday Life website, where she asked ‘Where are the disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families in Bluey’s Brisbane’
Bluey, dubbed Australia’s most popular children’s television show, follows the adventures of ‘a loveable, inexhaustible six year-old Blue Heeler dog’ along with her family which includes her mum, dad and younger sister, and her friends.
Responding to criticism of her comments on Twitter, Ms Wang said she penned the piece – ‘I’ve learnt a lot from Bluey, but can the show be more representative?’ – because she believed the show could do better with its character selection.
‘This piece is essentially a love letter to Bluey, plus a very gently-phrased wish to see if a great show can push itself to do even better. I know I’m not alone with my questions (and love) for Bluey,’ Ms Wang said.
Bluey, dubbed Australia’s most popular children’s television show, follows the adventures of ‘a loveable, inexhaustible six year-old Blue Heeler dog’ along with her family which includes her mum, dad and younger sister, and her friends