Save the date! Animal Planet moves Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s TV wedding special forward by TWO MONTHS following huge fan backlash in Australia
Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s TV wedding special premiered on U.S. cable channel Animal Planet this month – leaving Australian fans furious.
And now Animal Planet has moved its Australian air date for ‘Crikey! It’s The Irwins: Bindi’s Wedding’ forward by two months to cater to viewer demand.
‘Australia, we’ve heard you and you won’t need to wait long for the television wedding event of the year,’ Animal Planet announced in a statement on Tuesday.
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Save the date! Animal Planet moves Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s TV wedding special forward by TWO MONTHS for May 23 after fan backlash
Despite the ceremony happening at Australia Zoo on March 25, the episode debuted exclusively in America, and wasn’t due to screen Down Under until July.
Crikey! It’s The Irwins: Bindi’s Wedding will now air in Australia on Saturday, May 23 from 6:30pm.
The network also claims it is ‘upping the ante on the celebrations’ by dedicating the whole month to being ‘Irwin Month’, with two hours of programming from the wildlife warriors every night from 6.30pm, starting Sunday on May 3.
Kiss the bride: Bindi, 21, and her professional wakeboarder husband, 23, tied the knot at Australia Zoo, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, on March 25
Bottom of the list: In another bizarre twist, the episode would have already aired in every other country by the time Australians were scheduled to watch it
‘Ripped off’: Many Australians voiced their frustration on Twitter earlier this month
Bindi and Chandler’s ‘wedding story’ premiered on U.S. cable channel Animal Planet on May 18, and the newlyweds endured immediate backlash from fans in Australia.
Aussies were angered that the episode was due to air in every other country by July 18 [when it was originally scheduled to air Down Under].
‘I’m so confused why Aussies have to wait the longest when you got married 40mins down the road from me? #rippedoff,’ one Queenslander tweeted earlier this month.
‘Omg it was in Australia and Australians don’t even get to see it until July like if you’re mad,’ another person tweeted at Chandler as he revealed the airdates.
‘I find it weird how the wedding took place in Australia and they’re the LAST ones to see it,’ mused a third fan of the famous family.
Many other people questioned why Australia is ‘so late’ and ‘so behind’.
‘Programming is out of our control’: Chandler later responded to the backlash while thanking Americans for tuning in
‘Aren’t they Australian?’ Despite the ceremony happening at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast on March 25, the episode was not originally scheduled to air Down Under until July 18. PicturedL Bindi with mother Terri Irwin
‘We love our Wildlife Warriors neighbours’: Terri Irwin also stepped in, as no date airdate was announced for New Zealand
Chandler later responded to the backlash while thanking Americans for tuning in.
He tweeted: ‘Programming is out of our control as Animal Planet decides when to air the show. We will keep you posted as we find out more air dates!’
Terri Irwin also stepped in, as no airdate was announced for New Zealand.
‘We have specifically asked @AnimalPlanet about the scheduled premiere of Bindi and Chandler’s wedding special in New Zealand,’ Terri began.
‘We love our Wildlife Warriors neighbours! I’m sure they are doing their best to get the show to you as soon as possible. Stay healthy and happy!’
Australians will now be able to watch Crikey! It’s The Irwins: Bindi’s Wedding on Animal Planet from 6:30pm on Saturday, May 23
You’re invited! Australians will now be able to watch Crikey! It’s The Irwins: Bindi’s Wedding on Animal Planet from 6:30pm on Saturday, May 23