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Tucker Carlson loses ads over immigration comments | Tucker Carlson loses ads over immigration comments |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Advertisers are abandoning Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson amid outrage over his remarks about immigrants making the US "poorer and dirtier" and "divided". | Advertisers are abandoning Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson amid outrage over his remarks about immigrants making the US "poorer and dirtier" and "divided". |
Over a dozen companies, including insurer Pacific Life and finance site NerdWallet, have dropped the show over Mr Carlson's controversial language. | |
He first made the remarks on Thursday and defended his rhetoric on Monday. | He first made the remarks on Thursday and defended his rhetoric on Monday. |
Fox News has called it an attempt by left-wing activists to "weaponise social media" and "stifle free speech". | Fox News has called it an attempt by left-wing activists to "weaponise social media" and "stifle free speech". |
On his programme, Tucker Carlson Tonight, last Thursday, Mr Carlson said the US needed "more scientists and skilled engineers but that's not what we're getting". | On his programme, Tucker Carlson Tonight, last Thursday, Mr Carlson said the US needed "more scientists and skilled engineers but that's not what we're getting". |
The conservative host claimed immigration was "indefensible" economically. | The conservative host claimed immigration was "indefensible" economically. |
"Our leaders demand that you shut up and accept this. 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." | "Our leaders demand that you shut up and accept this. 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." |
Insurance company Pacific Life pulled advertising from Mr Carlson's show last week after facing online criticism for having an ad air after the host's immigration monologue. | Insurance company Pacific Life pulled advertising from Mr Carlson's show last week after facing online criticism for having an ad air after the host's immigration monologue. |
"We strongly disagree with Mr Carlson's statements," Pacific Life tweeted on Friday. "We will not be advertising on Mr Carlson's show in the coming weeks as we re-evaluate our relationship with his programme." | "We strongly disagree with Mr Carlson's statements," Pacific Life tweeted on Friday. "We will not be advertising on Mr Carlson's show in the coming weeks as we re-evaluate our relationship with his programme." |
Despite the mounting backlash, the anchor defended his statements on Monday, saying he would not be intimidated by "enforcers scream[ing], 'Racist,' on Twitter". | Despite the mounting backlash, the anchor defended his statements on Monday, saying he would not be intimidated by "enforcers scream[ing], 'Racist,' on Twitter". |
Since Monday, personal finance company Nerd Wallet has also said in a statement to US media that it will be "re-evaluating any ongoing advertising" on Mr Carlson's programme. | Since Monday, personal finance company Nerd Wallet has also said in a statement to US media that it will be "re-evaluating any ongoing advertising" on Mr Carlson's programme. |
Minted, a design marketplace website, tweeted on Monday that it would be "permanently discontinuing" advertising on Mr Carlson's programme over the remarks. | Minted, a design marketplace website, tweeted on Monday that it would be "permanently discontinuing" advertising on Mr Carlson's programme over the remarks. |
Here are the other companies who are pulling commercials, according to the Hollywood Reporter: | |
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), the largest immigration legal nonprofit in Texas, has also called on all advertisers to stop supporting Mr Carlson's show. | |
However, not all of Mr Carlson's advertisers have opted out - Mitsubishi and Farmers Insurance told US media they did not consider politics when purchasing ads. | However, not all of Mr Carlson's advertisers have opted out - Mitsubishi and Farmers Insurance told US media they did not consider politics when purchasing ads. |
Mr Carlson's biggest advertising dollars are also still coming in, according to the Associated Press, and some experts say this boycott only amounts to short-term damage. | |
In a statement, a Fox official told US media: "It is a shame that left-wing advocacy groups, under the guise of being supposed 'media watchdogs', weaponise social media against companies in an effort to stifle free speech." | In a statement, a Fox official told US media: "It is a shame that left-wing advocacy groups, under the guise of being supposed 'media watchdogs', weaponise social media against companies in an effort to stifle free speech." |
Fox News anchors have faced ad boycotts for controversial comments before. | Fox News anchors have faced ad boycotts for controversial comments before. |
Earlier this year, host Laura Ingraham lost advertisers for mocking David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland high school shooting. | Earlier this year, host Laura Ingraham lost advertisers for mocking David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland high school shooting. |