Following the harrowing Titan sub tragedy, ABC Kids' Play School has inadvertently stirred an online debate due to an "unfortunately timed" episode, featuring an underwater adventure.
This episode, part of their “Sea And Space: 2” series, aired just a day after the tragic event where five individuals perished during a Titanic-bound expedition when the Titan sub imploded due to catastrophic pressure hull failure, news.com.au reports.
During the controversial segment, hosts Kaeng and Rachel guided dolls Jemima and Kiya into the ocean's mysterious "cold and dark" midnight zone.
Rachel, full of cheer, invites viewers on their marine exploration: "going to the bottom of the sea." The audience then sees the dolls delve deep into the ocean in a submarine-like prop. "They’ve made it all the way to the bottom of the sea floor," she declares, adding, "It’s very dark," while speculating about encountering bioluminescent sea creatures.
Their underwater expedition takes them to observe glow-in-the-dark jellyfish and other sea creatures, all set to a catchy tune: "Two explorers went to sea sea sea to see what they could see see see see. But all that they could see see see was…"
Kaeng enthusiastically points out torch fish as the song repeats, reflecting each new aquatic discovery. The segment concludes with Kaeng stating that they will have "so much to report when they get back."
One viewer expressed concern over the timing on social media, igniting a heated discussion.
A Reddit user reposted part of the segment with the caption: "Bad timing for the scheduling this morning, Playschool."
The post attracted nearly 300 comments by Sunday. Opinions varied widely, with some criticizing the episode as insensitive, with comments like: "Play school just rubbing it in! How vicious".
A second person added: "I'm convinced someone behind the scenes has a dark side..."
"What a face palm," a third commented.
Others defended the show, arguing about the advanced filming and scheduling process. One defender of the show argued: "You are aware that these shows are filmed and scheduled way ahead of time, right?"
Another sarcastic comment read: "Yeah, because little Timmy is going to be engrossed in the news and comprehend why this was poorly timed."
Despite the social media comments, ABC News confirmed to news.com.au that it had received no formal complaints about the Play School episode.
