Portugal. The Man pull out of Sunrise performance in protest over controversial First Australians segment

Portugal. The Man pulled out of their appearance on Seven’s Sunrise this morning as a protest over the breakfast show’s much criticised First Australians families segment in March.

Viewers took to social media to call it racist and patronising.

The Grammy winning US rock band announced its decision on Instagram last night.

“We were scheduled to appear on Sunrise tomorrow morning but we have decided, as a band, that we do not want to be part of that show at this time.

“We come from rural Alaska and hold very close to our hearts the Indigenous people of our home.

“While we are by no means experts in your countries [sic] history we know there are problems that, like ours, are yet to be resolved and only being amplified by the recent statements on Sunrise.

“Uncle Allen Madden will be welcoming us all to our show in Sydney tonight. With love and respect, Australia.”

The Hot Topic segment was to examine children’s minister David Gillespie’s call on rules prohibiting indigenous children being adopted by non-family members to be relaxed.

In a bad call, producers assembled an all-white panel.

Panelist Prue MacSween called the move a ‘no brainer’.

She added, “Just like the first Stolen Generation, where a lot of children were taken because it was for their well-being, we need to do it again, perhaps.”

The First Australians community and its supporters protested loudly and demanded an apology when Sunrise hosts Sam Armytage and David Koch were filming on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games.

The show, clearly rattled by the backlash, assembled an all-indigenous panel.