Some major companies have decided to remove their ads from Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” after the host’s recent statements on law enforcement and Black Lives Matter.
Tucker Carlson has been a constant critic of the riots that have ensued in the wake of the Memorial Day death of 46-year-old George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. He has also praised the police and called for even more force to quell riots.
Carlson a Constant Critic of Black Lives Matter
On Monday, Carlson said Black Lives Matter “may be a lot of things, this moment we’re living through, but it is definitely not about Black lives.”
“Remember that when they come for you, and at this rate, they will,” Carlson said.
Many have insisted Carlson meant black people when he said “they,” but the network says he meant left-leaning media outlets, politicians and institutions.
UPDATE: This AM, I reported @PapaJohns was still advertising on Tucker Carlson
It sent me a statement last nite indicating it had no plans to stop
In a new statement, sent to me moments ago, the company said it will no longer advertise on Tucker Carlsonhttps://t.co/bjUXjkl30U
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 10, 2020
Advertisers Drop Carlson
Among the companies that have announced they will no longer run ads on Carlson’s show are, Disney, Papa John’s, Poshmark, and T-Mobile.
T-Mobile’s CEO Mike Sievert tweeted “Bye-bye, Tucker Carlson” on Tuesday and his company issued the statement that “We haven’t run ads on Tucker Carlson Tonight since early May and have cancelled all future placements. We will continue to support those who stand against racial injustice.”
Thanks Cap. I agree. Bye-bye Tucker!
— Mike Sievert (@MikeSievert) June 10, 2020
A message from our CEO, @mikesievert.https://t.co/9OTS2GcbM7#BlackLivesMatter
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) June 10, 2020
Despite these ad boycotts, Fox News insists they haven’t been harmed financially by the companies upset with Carlson.
“All national dollars/ads were moved to other programs and there has not been any national money lost,” the network told CBS MoneyWatch.
Lachlan Murdock, CEO of Fox Corporation, told Variety that ad revenue had grown by 15 percent in the most recent fiscal quarter, with advertising dollars from fast food, tech, insurance, and streaming sectors “mitigating most of the pullback in the categories that you would expect, such as auto, entertainment and retail,” Variety reported.
During Fox News primetime lineup, advertising jumped 65 percent in April.
Fox News Supports Tucker
Carlson is reportedly close to Murdoch and appears to have the continued support of management.
Fox News official stance on advertiser boycotts, as stated in 2018 and again in 2019, was that “we cannot and will not allow voices like Tucker Carlson to be censored by agenda-driven intimidation efforts.”