For Immediate Release
August 17, 2009
Contact: Brandon Hatler – DumpGlennBeck@gmail.com
Eight More
Companies Decide to Pull Ads from Glenn
Beck; Twenty Companies Have Now Pulled Advertising
Wal-Mart,
CVS, Best Buy, Travelocity, Among Latest to Pull Ads
OAKLAND, Calif.—Eight more
Glenn Beck advertisers, including Wal-Mart – the world’s largest
retailer – have confirmed to ColorOfChange.org that they pulled their
ads from the controversial Fox News Channel broadcaster’s eponymous
show. Allergan (maker of Restasis), Ally Bank (a unit of GMAC Financial
Services), Best Buy, Broadview Security, CVS, Re-Bath, Travelocity and
Wal-Mart join the dozen other companies who previously distanced themselves
from Beck.
Twenty companies have pulled
their ads from Beck’s show in just the last two weeks. The moves come
after the Fox News host called President Obama a “racist” who “has
a deep-seated hatred for white people” during an appearance on
Fox & Friends. Previous companies who pulled their ads include
ConAgra, GEICO, Lawyers.com, Men’s Wearhouse, Procter & Gamble,
Progressive Insurance, RadioShack, Roche, SC Johnson, Sanofi-Aventis,
Sargento, and State Farm Insurance.
“We are heartened to see
so many corporate citizens step up in support of our campaign against
Glenn Beck,” said James Rucker, executive director of ColorOfChange.org.
“Their action sends a clear a message to Glenn Beck: Broadcasters
shouldn’t abuse the privilege they enjoy by spewing dangerous and
racially charged hate language over the air. No matter their political
affiliation, hate language doesn’t belong in our national dialogue.”
“Walmart [sic] today confirmed
the retailer pulled ads from the Glenn Beck show on August 3rd,”
said David Tovar, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart, in an email to ColorOfChange.org.
“While advertising on Fox
is part of our communication plan, we had not requested time on Glenn
Beck’s show specifically,” said Carolyn Castel, Vice President of
Corporate Communications for CVS Caremark, in an email to ColorOfChange.org.
“We have instructed our advertising agency to inform Fox to ensure
Glenn Beck’s program is not part of our advertising plan.”
“Our position is simple,”
Castel continued. “We support vigorous debate, especially around policy
issues that affect millions of Americans, but we expect it to be informed,
inclusive and respectful, in keeping with our company’s core values
and commitment to diversity.”
In an email exchange with ColorOfChange.org, Lisa Svac Hawks, Director of Public Relations for Best Buy, stated that any advertisements for Best Buy that were placed on Glenn Beck’s show were done so in error. Svac Hawks pledged that Best Buy will correct any mistakes made.
“We did not specifically
place our ad on the show,” said Amanda Borichevsky, a spokesperson
for Travelocity in an email to ColorOfChange.org. “We buy ads in bulk
and then they are placed somewhat randomly. However, we have now specifically
asked that our ads do not appear during this show.”
“We reviewed our commercial
schedule, and based on your feedback, we’ve put any programming featuring
Glenn Beck on our “do not air” list,” said Aziz Mottiwala, Senior
Marketing Manager for Allergan, in an email to ColorOfChange.org. “This
means that you will no longer see any Restasis ads during programming
featuring Glenn Beck. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention.”
“Ally advertises on a broad
spectrum of programs to reach our potential customers,” said a Customer
Care Representative for Ally Bank. “Our advertising is not an endorsement
of editorial content on any program. We have ceased to advertise on
the Glenn Beck program.”
In a phone conversation with
Dwayne Sigler, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Broadview Security
Systems, Sigler told ColorOfChange.org that Broadview’s advertising
is bought based on network, not particular programs, but that “given
the considerations, we have requested of Fox News not to include us
in the rotation that would have our commercials running on Glenn Beck’s
show.”
“…We are no longer airing
our commercials on the Glenn Beck Show…” said Mary Beth Mayer, spokesperson
for Re-Bath, in a phone message to ColorOfChange.org.
“We are continuously impressed
with the response we are getting and the amount of companies who have
stepped forward to pull their ads from Glenn Beck,” said James Rucker,
executive director of ColorOfChange.org. “We have the backing of a
number of major companies in this country and we’re still going to
continue our fight to see that as many of Beck’s advertisers pull
their support as possible.”
Three weeks ago, ColorOfChange.org
called on its 600,000-plus members to sign a petition urging companies
who advertise on Glenn Beck to cut off their advertising support of
his work. Since then, more than 145,000 members have responded
to the call by signing a petition directed at advertisers.
The ColorOfChange.org email
urged members to go visit http://www.colorofchange.org/
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