Michael McIntyre’s Big Show guest, AJ Odudu, has sparked a controversy with viewers accusing her of breaking the BBC’s advertising rules.
The 35 year old co-host of ITV2’s Big Brother revival was on the show to participate in the Send To All segment, where Michael sends an embarrassing message from a celebrity’s phone to all their contacts. However, when she discussed her Google Pixel phone – for which she has starred in a number of adverts and promotional posts on Instagram – viewers questioned if rules were being broken.
AJ was asked why she didn’t have an iPhone, to which she responded: “It’s a Google Pixel. Actually a few years ago I thought, iPhones every time I dropped one the screen would smash.”
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She added that after smashing her phone five times in a week, she needed a sturdier screen. Since October 2022, AJ has been promoting #TeamPixel, including content across YouTube, Instagram and on a television advert as the brand’s new face of its Pixel 7 phone with Real Tone camera function.
(Image: BBC)
The BBC has strict rules against sneaky ads. They say ads must be clear and not mixed with regular shows.
The BBC guidelines read: “All advertising must be clearly presented as commercial content, distinct from editorial content. The nature of an advertising relationship must be transparent so that it is clear to the audience that they are seeing a commercial message. Surreptitious or subliminal advertising is prohibited.”
(Image: BBC)
People on X, which used to be Twitter, had a lot to say. Someone posted: “BBC needs to investigate the commercial conflict of interest when Google Pixel advertiser Odudu appears in a mobile phone feature on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.”
Another person spotted the ad too, saying: “Slight advertising there for the Google Pixel.” Someone else didn’t buy the story: “So she dropped the iPhone five days in a row really? Don’t insult my intelligence as she is contracted to Google phones unbelievable thinking the general public won’t realise that.”
(Image: BBC)
One more chimed in: “AJ fulfilling her Google Pixel contract.” And another pointed out: “She’s got a Google Pixel because she did the adverts and they gave it to her for nothing.”
Daily Star has contacted the BBC for comment.
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show airs Saturdays at 6.50pm on BBC One
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
