Tucker Carlson's Remaining Advertisers Targeted In New Call For Boycott
An explosive report revealing inappropriate comments made by Fox News host Tucker Carlson has rekindled questions about which advertisers will continue to stick by his show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
WOW.
This is damning. How can any of his remaining advertisers continue to pay for this man’s opinions? https://t.co/6r1NeQbzRW— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) March 10, 2019
Companies like @ProcterGamble and @AstraZeneca and @Ford and @LincolnMotorCo and @mitsucars and @CapitalOne and @Amgen apparently think they need to give money to a guy who is proud to call women "primitive" and argue child rape should be legal.
cc @mmfa https://t.co/d48uSP6gAs— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) March 11, 2019
I'm not retweeting the Tucker Carlson audio tape because it's so over the top offensive, but how he still has a job tomorrow...I have no idea. And if advertisers don't drop him, never buy from them.
— Julie Wilcox WX (@JulieWilcoxWX) March 11, 2019
According to clips uncovered by Media Matters for America, Carlson can be heard saying things like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are “two of the biggest white whores in America,” women are “extremely primitive,” and a teacher sleeping with an underage male student is “doing a service to all 13-year-old girls.” He also defends the actions of Warren Jeffs, a man accused of facilitating the marriage of an underage teenage girl to an older man.
The clips come from Carlson’s appearances on the radio show “Bubba the Love Sponge,” where he was a weekly guest from 2006 to 2011.
In response to the widespread backlash to the clips on social media, Carlson admitted that his comments were “naughty,” but did not apologize. He invited anyone who disagrees with his views to come on his show and explain why.
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 11, 2019
HuffPost has reached out to companies that have advertised on Carlson’s show in 2019 ― including Sony and Capital One ― and will update this report accordingly.
Mitsubishi told HuffPost in a statement that its “advertising media spend is determined based on demographics and psychographics, not politics.”
“Our strategic marketing intent is to share our key product news with consumers through a variety of media channels. We will monitor the situation and adjust our advertising if necessary,” a spokesman for the company said via email.
Outback Steakhouse told HuffPost in a statement that the restaurant chain ceased advertising on Carlson’s show in January.
AstraZeneca confirmed to HuffPost that it is no longer advertising on Carlson’s show and “will not be advertising on this program in the future.”
Sleep Number told HuffPost on Tuesday that “at this time, this program is not part of our planned media schedule.” The brand’s spokesperson added that they “regularly review our advertising strategy to decide appropriate placement.”
Sheex sent out a press release indicating that “due to the inappropriate statements of Tucker Carlson that have recently come to light, SHEEX has made the decision to cease advertising on his television program, Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carlson’s “ad load has fallen from about 36 per show to about 18 per show” from December to March 2019, with his primary advertisers being MyPillow, MyPhoto, ReputationDefender, gutter protection product Leaf Filter, moving and storage company PODS, and cardiovascular health device Zona Plus.
One of his few remaining advertisers, mattress company Purple, announced it was leaving Carlson’s show at the end of March.
The hashtag #FireTuckerCarlson went viral on Twitter just after the uncovered comments were made public:
Tucker Carlson is what happens when rich white male privilege goes unchecked forever #hack #FireTuckerCarlson https://t.co/12f6NnkmQ9
— Tara F’n Dublin (@taradublinrocks) March 11, 2019
Fox News won't fire Tucker Carlson.
Fox News is a misogynist network. The men are lecherous.
O'Reilly was fired not for his words, but because his serial abuse was a liability.
Tucker can say all the hateful things he wants. Why? Hate is Fox's business.#FireTuckerCarlson— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) March 11, 2019
I truly hope, for the sake of women and girls around the world who deserve to be empowered and valued that @FoxNews #FireTuckerCarlson @TuckerCarlson
— April Thomas (@aprilsparkles1) March 11, 2019
Carlson was embroiled in a previous controversy with advertisers after he suggested on his show in December 2018 that immigrants are making the United States “dirtier.”
“We have a moral obligation to admit the world’s poor, they tell us, even if it makes our own country poorer and dirtier and more divided,” he said on his show, later criticizing immigrants again with his take on the Emma Lazarus poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty. “Huddled masses yearning to breathe free? Nope, cynical shakedown artists who have been watching too much CNN.”
The comments led to more than 20 advertisers withdrawing their involvement from Carlson’s show.
Since then, Carlson has not shied away from drama. The Fox News host was recorded in an interview with historian Rutger Bregman calling him a “moron,” in an expletive-filled rant.
“Moron ... I wanna say to you why don’t you go fuck yourself ― you tiny brain,” Carlson said in the interview, which wasn’t aired. “And I hope this gets picked up because you’re a moron. I tried to give you a hearing, but you were too fucking annoying,” Carlson said.
Carlson responded that what he said to Bregman was “heartfelt.”
This story has been updated with comment The Hollywood Reporter story on the ad load for Carlson’s program.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.