Investigation Report No. 2869
ACMA file reference / ACMA2012/1216Broadcaster / Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Station / ABQ, Regional Queensland
Type of Service / National Broadcasting Service (Television)
Name of Program / Rage(‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’ by P!NK)
Dates of Broadcast / 25 August 2012
Relevant Legislation/Code / Broadcasting Services Act 1992
- Section 151
- Standard 7.3.1 (Television Classifications – G)
Investigation conclusion
- No breach of Standard 7.3.1 (Television Classifications – G) of the ABC Code of Practice 2011.
The complaint
On 5 September 2012, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) received a written complaint abouta music video shown during the program Rage. The music video, ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’ by P!NK,was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Service (ABC) atapproximately 7.40am on Saturday 25 August 2012.
The complainant alleged that the music video shown during the G classified program contained violencethat was too explicit for the G classification.
Not satisfied with the response provided by the ABC, the complainant forwarded the matter to the ACMA for investigation.
The program
Rage is a music video program broadcast from 11.00 pm on Friday evenings to 11.00am on Saturday mornings.[1]The program is broken up into segments and the classification is dependent on the time of broadcast. From 6.00 am to 10.00 am on Saturday,the program is broadcast with a G classification.
The complainant identified the music video for the song ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’ byP!NK. As it was broadcast at approximately 7.40 am, it was classified G.
The music video
The music video ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’ by P!NKruns for approximately 3:50minutes. It consists of black and white imagery with the exception of a single red colour which appears intermittently throughout the music video.
The opening sequence of the music video establishes that P!NK is having a picnic with a male. The couple hold wine glasses containing a red liquid. At approximately 0:30 minutes, the male leans forward, implicitly intending to kiss P!NK, but then stops to answer his mobile phone with a smile. As a result, at approximately 0:41 minutes, P!NKis depicted throwing the contents of her glass acrossher partner’s face before getting up and walking away.
In a subsequent scene, at approximately 2:30 minutes, the same male is shown holding a ring and implicitly proposing to P!NK by dropping ona bended knee (below screen) before her. However, instead of giving her the ring, he hands it to a female standing behind her.
At approximately 2:40 minutes,P!NK is shown wearing an all-black outfit and appears to be an attendee at an outdoor wedding ceremony. A largered ‘love heart’is shown in the skyapproaching the wedding ceremony and, at approximately 2:58 minutes, the ‘love heart’ bursts which results in the wedding guestsbeing showeredin a pink/red liquidwhich produces a fluorescent effect in contrast to the black and white background. P!NK is shown dancing while the groom looks on. At approximately 3:30 minutes, P!NK is shown flying away, seated behind a male on afantastical winged bicycle.
Assessment
The assessment is based on a copy of the relevant broadcast provided to the ACMA by the ABC and submissions from the complainant and the ABC.[2]
Relevant provisions
The ABC Code of Practice 2011 (the Code) contains the following provisions that are relevant to the matters raised by the complainant:
7.3.1 Television Classifications
G – General
(G programs may be shown at any time)
G programs, which include programs designed for pre-school and school-aged children, are suitable for children to watch on their own. Some G programs may be more appropriate for older children.
The G classification does not necessarily indicate that the program is one that children will enjoy. Some G programs contain themes or storylines that are not of interest to children.
Whether or not the program is intended for children, the treatment of themes and other classifiable elements will be careful and discreet.
Themes: The treatment of themes should be discreet, justified by context, and very mild in impact. The presentation of dangerous, imitable behaviour is not permitted except in those circumstances where it is justified by context. Any depiction of such behaviour must not encourage dangerous imitation.
Violence: Violence may be very discreetly implied, but should:
- have a light tone, or
- have a very low sense of threat or menace, and
- be infrequent, and
- not be gratuitous.
[...]
Complainant’s submissions
In correspondence to the ABC, dated 28 August 2012, the complainant provided the following relevant submissions:
I am not sure if the ABC check the contents of the video clips on Rage but when I turned on the TV on Saturday morning 25 Aug at 7.40am I was confronted by scenes of people being splattered with blood.
I think this type of content is totally unnecessary.
As I assume the audience is young teenagers - 13 yrs upwards I would be horrified if I was a parent and knew my children were exposed to such violence on a 'music show'.
Responding to the ABC’s reply to the complaint, the complainant stated:
Thank you for your very comprehensive response but I still disagree that this is G classification. It was horrific and if this is permitted in G then the classifications need to be amended.
Your comments "The heart explodes over the wedding after the vows are exchanged. The couple and the guests are all splashed with a red liquid. The liquid is notblood - the heart is not real."
Hey - this is horrific stuff and of course it is meant to represent blood which in my opinion is totally unnecessary in a video clip whether it is Pink or any other artist. When everyone in the clip was dressed in white and get[s] splatteredin red liquid then it is horrific viewing and certainly not ABC standard.
My opinion is that the ABC need to be change their standards as this scene was NOT acceptable to the general viewing public. People being splattered with red liquidthat in this case was obviously blood is not acceptable and yes I will take this further.
In correspondence to the ACMA, dated 5 September 2012, the complainant stated the following:
[...]
It is my opinion that this video clip was far too explicit for ABC TV and G category.
Basically it was people dressed all in white being splattered in ‘blood’.
ABC TV state it was ‘red liquid’ but, whatever, it was totally unnecessary and certainlynot G category and horrific when you first switch the TV on !
[...]
Broadcaster’s submissions
In correspondence to the complainant, dated 4 September 2012, the ABCprovided the following relevant submissions:
The video in question is for Pink's "Blow Me".
This clip was broadcast during the G segment of the rage program. The standards for G content on the ABC are set out in the ABC's Television Program Classification Associated Standards (
All videos broadcast on rage are reviewed and scheduled appropriately according to the Classification Standards.
On review of the clip in light of your concerns, we are satisfied that the depiction to which you refer can be appropriately accommodated under a G Classification. The video in question is in black and white. The only other colour seen throughout the video is red. In the opening scenes Pink throws a glass of red liquid over her boyfriend's face as he takes a phone call. The video further reveals that Pink's relationship with this man is over. In a later scene he is seen approaching her, she is looking expectant, yet as he comes closer he asks her companion to be his wife. At the wedding, Pink is dressed in black, while the bride and groom and all other guests are in white. Pink's revenge is delivered by a large red heart carried by fantastical cycle/aircraft. The heart explodes over the wedding after the vows are exchanged. The couple and the guests are all splashed with a red liquid. The liquid is not blood - the heart is not real.
As the ABC Classifiers note "...it is not violence unsuitable for G (light tone, very low sense of threat or menace, infrequent and not gratuitous” and "...Pink sings, affirming her new beginning, "I think that life's too short for this, I want back my ignorance and bliss, I think I've had enough of this, blow me one last kiss." It is a positive song about recovering from the unhappy past love affair, she wants a new start and brings colour back into her life after the unhappiness of the past."
Finding
The ACMA finds that the ABC, in broadcasting the music video for ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’ by P!NKon 25August2012 at approximately 7:40 am during Rage,did not breach Standard 7.3.1 (Television Classifications – G) of the Code.
Reasons
According to the Code, the treatment of themes should be discreet, justified by context, and very mild in impact. The presentation of dangerous, imitable behaviour is not permitted except in those circumstances where it is justified by context. Any depiction of such behaviour must not encourage dangerous imitation.
Violence may be very discreetly implied, but should have a light tone, or have a very low sense of threat or menace, and be infrequent, and not be gratuitous.
The complainant’s concerns relate to violence and thealleged depiction of blood in the P!NK music video. Accordingly, the music video has been assessed the in relation to both violence and themesunder Standard 7.3.1 of the Code.
The complainant has cited visual references to blood in the music video. The visual references occur between 2:58 - 3:30 minutes, during the wedding ceremony scene.
Although the red liquid spilling out of the love heart could be perceived to be blood, this is ambiguous. Throughout the music video, the lyrics in conjunction with the visuals appear to portray P!NK exacting revenge on an unfaithful partner.The love heart scene appears to be symbolic of P!NK’s broken heart.
The similarities between the liquid coming out of the love heart and that seen in P!NK’s glass in an earlier scene suggest that the liquid is the same and thereby creating further ambiguity.
The music videodoes not contain any depictions or any insinuation of violence.At the end of the weddingscene,P!NK is depicted smiling and dancing. The reactions of the other guests reflect annoyance rather than fear or anguish.
As P!NK leaves the wedding on the fantastical winged bicycle, the red liquid is no longer visible on her, this again emphasises the fantasy theme. The closing scenes reinforce the theme of heartbreak and moving on.
The fantastical setting andlight-hearted tone lessens the overall impact of the content, while the costumes and props contribute to the unrealistictone of the music video.
These mitigating factors lessen the viewing impact and lessen the likelihood that the red colour is likely to be perceived as actual blood.
For these reasons, it is considered that the visual references to blood are symbolic, discreetly implied andno more than very mild in impact.
The references are considered justified within the context of a music video for the song ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’about a relationship gone wrong and recovery from heartache.
ACMA Investigation Report – Rage broadcast by ABC on 25 August 20121
[1]The exact broadcast start time varies depending on the duration of the preceding program.
[2]The ABC provided confirmation on 18 September 2012 that the submitted copy of the music video was in fact broadcast on the occasion referenced in the complaint.