‘What a disgrace’: Shane Warne series blasted by Aussie audiences

Following the long-awaited premiere of the Shane Warne miniseries on Sunday, June 26, viewers have flocked to social media platforms to express their opinions on the tribute to the legendary King of Spin.

If initial responses are anything to go by then the series has failed to live up to expectations, with numerous Australians condemning it as a “disgrace”.

After Warne died at the age of 52 while holidaying on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand on March 4, 2022, television executives quickly began production on the series immortalising the late cricketer’s life.

Unfortunately, following the broadcast, the feedback was not positive for the production team.

I’ve had enough. This is an absolute disgrace and is tarnishing a legend of the game. It should have never seen the light of day. Shame on you @Channel9 #warnie

— Kyri Tsavaridis (@KTsavaridis) June 25, 2023

be ashamed Channel 9 this is terrible #warnie

— KrisSchiffter (@krissyschiffter) June 25, 2023

This is a disgrace thank god we all saw the goat in real time so we don’t have to sit thru this rubbish

— TraceyG ???????????? (@bozza1970) June 25, 2023

What a disgrace. Not only soiling the memory of the great man but just cheap shit. Disgraceful tv. It’s like you’ve given up as a station.

— Jack McClarkson (@JackMcclarkson) June 25, 2023

One star so not quite the equivalent of a golden duck – but pretty close.

— Colin Vickery (@Colvick) June 23, 2023

Come on @Channel9 this hot garbage you call #warnie looks like it was put together by a high school digital media class. Surely this is a joke

— Mark Jarrett (@MarkJarr) June 25, 2023

In addition to the public backlash, Warne’s eldest daughter has remained vocal in her opposition to the production.

When news initially broke that production had begun on the series, Brooke took to Instagram to vent her frustration.

Brooke questioned whether the broadcaster had “any respect” for her late father when a conversation between Nine presenter Jo Hall and radio personality Dee Dee Dunleavy turned to the upcoming series on radio station 3AW.

“Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family? Who did so much for Channel 9 and now you want to dramatise his life and our families life 6 months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful,” she wrote on her Instagram story at the time.

Warne’s ex-wife also delivered a scathing critique of the upcoming mini-series, accusing the network of “not showing any compassion”.

“I haven’t wanted to read into too much about it, but I think it’s a bit unkind and mean spirited to be honest,’ she told the Herald Sun.

“He’s just passed, let him rest in peace.

“And for the kids, I just believe that they’re not showing any compassion at all by putting this out there in such a short amount of time after this has happened. To be honest but that’s how I feel about it.”