The ABC has apologised after viewers reacted angrily to a skit about terminally ill children on The Chaser's War on Everything.
Some offended viewers called for the show to be axed after the segment, titled Make a Realistic Wish Foundation, went to air last night.
In the skit, child actors wrapped in bandages were given a stick and a pencil case instead of their wishes to go to Disneyland or meet teenage actor Zac Efron.
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Angry viewers inundate the ABC's website The skit ended with actor Chris Taylor saying there was no point granting the wishes of terminally ill children because "they're going to die any way".
The ABC's director of TV Kim Dalton and The Chaser's executive producer Julian Morrow issued a statement acknowledging the distress the segment had caused, and apologised to those who were upset by it.
"The sketch in last night's show ... was a satirical sketch and black comedy," the statement said.
"The ABC and The Chaser did not intend to hurt those who have been affected by the terminal illness of a child. We acknowledge the distress this segment has caused and we apologise to anyone we have upset.
"As a result, ABC TV will edit the segment out of tonight's repeat screening on ABC2 and online."
Viewers vented their anger on an ABC website this morning, with one describing it as the most appalling thing to be aired on television.
A father of a terminally ill seven-year-old boy said he had always been a fan of The Chaser but was shocked it would make light of the foundation, which his family had been involved with.
"I will now have to go and accompany my wife who is presently consoling our son in his bedroom about his pending fate and agonising death which this show did nothing but exacerbate the issue,'' he wrote after the show aired.
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