This network’s decision prompted many frowny faces on social media.
The UK’s Channel 5 sparked a major uproar online after controversially airing “The Emoji Movie,” and other animated children’s films, instead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey Monday morning.
Indeed, while BBC One, BBC Two and ITV aired the funeral live and Channel 4 showed a documentary about the queen from 1953, the Paramount-owned station decided instead to show the 2017 sci-fi comedy cartoon, which is widely considered one of the worst animated films ever made, Express reported. It then followed it up by playing other animated flicks “Stuart Little” and “Ice Age 3,” Metro reported.
In doing so, Channel 5 became the only major British service not to broadcast any queen-related coverage during the event.
The UK’s Channel 5 is in hot water online after airing “The Emoji Movie,” and other children’s animated flicks, instead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Eve
Many online mourners took umbrage at Channel 5’s decision to air “The Emoji Movie” instead of Elizabeth’s send-off. ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett CollectionNeedless to say, many social media users took umbrage with the programming decision with one appalled Twitter user writing, “No way channel 5 are showing the emoji movie rn.”
“Sorry why are all the channels about The Queen apart from channel 5 who saw it fitting to play the emoji movie,” spluttered another.
“Indeed. Channel 5 really need to show some respect,” said one offended mourner of the royal Rick Roll.
King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla and other members of the royal family follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried into Westminster Abbey ahead of her state funeral, in London, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. AP
Channel 5 was the only UK news service not to broadcast the funeral of its longest reigning monarch. Twitter/Lucia Keskin
Members of the public cry as they watch the state funeral service of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on a large screen in Hyde Park, London, on Sept. 19, 2022. AFP via Getty ImagesHowever, others deemed the programming move a refreshing interlude from the somber funeral coverage.
“Channel five playing the emoji movie whilst every other channel is playing the queens funeral is the best thing ever,” praised one cartoon fan on Twitter.
“Channel 5 showing the emoji movie during the queen’s funeral… not the heroes we wanted… but the heroes we deserve,” gushed another.
Follow The New York Post’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral:
Some Twitter wits even cracked wise about being touched by what they were seeing only to reveal that they were watching “The Emoji Movie” and not Elizabeth’s funeral.
“It is a bit of an emotional watch and there will never be anything quite like this again, it’s so unique and so culturally significant,” quipped one joker online. “Saying that, I do hope they make a sequel to the Emoji Movie.”
