Hamster gag cleared as satirical, if “tasteless.”

That now-controversial gag on The Hamster Decides, when News Corp columnist Chris Kenny was photoshopped into an image having sex with a dog, has been branded as tasteless by ABC managing director Mark Scott -but given the all clear from an internal review.

Mark Scott told Melbourne’s 774 radio the ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs division did not breach the corporation’s editorial policies, as part of a satirical programme.

Scott said there were parallels with cartoons in newspapers, in particular a similarly themed cartoon by Bill Leak several years ago.

He said the program was trying to make a point about a high-profile person and issue but understood how it could have caused offence.

“I thought it was pretty full-on and tasteless and undergraduate,” he said. “I didn’t like it.”

The Guardian reports ABC received only one complaint until the story was reported in the media, drawing more complaints.

The image lampooning Kenny, also a SKY News presenter, followed his criticisms that the government should review ABC funding.

Kenny’s son Liam later turned to social media to support the Chaser team, noting the media’s “ongoing bully campaigns” against those who question newspaper editorial practices.

“And it’s a jokey picture of a bestial embrace that I should be afraid of discovering online?” he wrote.

Kenny is reportedly seeking legal advice regarding the ABC sketch.