Following the reactions of women organizations, Brand Schafer withdrew its sponsorship for Seda Sayan’s TV Program broadcasted in Show TV.
Having talked to bianet, “Our company’s target customer is women. We, as company, are sensitive to violence against women. We don’t wish to have a bed reputation due to such programs,” stated Schafer Executive Board Member Murat Aslan.
Seda Sayan invited Sefer Çalınak, who married 5 times and killed 2 of his wives and attended a marriage program in Flash TV in order to marry for sixth times, for her live broadcast. After that social media users and women organizations reacted against TV channel where program is broadcasted and ists sponsor Schafer.
Aslan stated in bianet:
“After program was broadcasted yesterday, we canceled our sponsorship for it. Violence against women is one of the issues we give importance on before contracting with TV or radio programs for being sponsor of them. We, as a whole company, conduct projects for women as well. As we develop projects about this issue, we don’t wish to have a bead reputation because of such programs for certain.
“Previously we were sponsor for TV series entitled ‘Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne?’ because we aimed to encourage raped or molested women to become conscious and enable them to access to authorized people. We take women issue and violence against women into consideration before we decide to be the sponsor for a program.”
Written Statement
After the company declared that they canceled their sponsorship last night, Schafer made also a written statement:
“Distinguished Schafer Friends,
We respect your sensitivity for the content of Seda Sayan’s TV program published in SHOW TV.
“We have been sponsor for several successful TV programs and series for years. However, we don’t intervene in the content of programs and choice of guests invited to TV programs; in addition, we are not responsible for them. TV channels are responsible for these points.
“Your advises and critics on these issues are carefully scrutinized and we inform TV channels about them.
“In conclusion, we kindly declare that we canceled our sponsorship for above-mentioned TV program in accordance with your advisers despite the fact that we don’t have responsibility for it.”
Tomorrow, women organizations will gather at the gate of Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council at 15.00 pm (GMT+2) and demonstrated at 17.00 pm (GMT+2) in front of the studio of the program. (AÖ/ÇT/MUY/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
