Furness slams ABC over adoption ad

Deborra-Lee Furness has branded the ABC "ignorant".

The Australian actress, who has two adopted children with husband Hugh Jackman, slammed the television channel after they refused to broadcast a public service advert on adoption that she filmed with Sesame Street character Elmo.

Furness made the 30-second advert in order to educate children on the issue, but the ABC said that they would not show the clip because it "did not meet its standards".

She told the Sunday Herald Sun: "I had to fight for three years to get that played on the ABC. The head of the ABC told me that he didn't think it was appropriate to talk to children about adoption.

"If they think it's a problem, my God, what chance do these kids have of being included and of being understood? It's ignorance and fear. It's part of their journey, but it doesn't define who they are."

A spokesman for the ABC said: "There is no substance to her comments. We have dealt with the issue before and have no further comment."