Farmers Insurance And Tucker Carlson: Examining The Advertising Landscape

In 2018, Farmers Insurance was one of several companies that faced pressure to boycott advertising on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. This came after Carlson made comments suggesting that mass immigration makes the United States poorer, and dirtier, and more divided. While some companies like Pacific Life Insurance and IHOP pulled their ads from the show, Farmers Insurance initially resisted calls for a boycott. They stated that their advertising decisions should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind as to a show's content or the individuals appearing on the show. However, Farmers Insurance eventually changed their position and joined the list of companies withdrawing their advertisements from Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Farmers Insurance initially rejected calls to boycott Tucker Carlson's show

However, Farmers Insurance eventually succumbed to pressure and joined the growing list of companies withdrawing their advertisements from Tucker Carlson's show. This decision came after Carlson's comments on immigration, where he stated that allowing undocumented immigrants into the United States would make the country "poorer and dirtier and more divided."

The controversy surrounding Carlson's remarks sparked a social media campaign led by progressive activists Jordan Uhl and Sleeping Giants, urging companies to pull their ads from the show. As a result, over two dozen corporations withdrew their commercials, causing the program to air fewer ad spots and rely more on network promotions and public service announcements.

While Farmers Insurance initially resisted the boycott, they ultimately changed their position and released a statement announcing that they had "halted advertising on Tucker Carlson Tonight." This shift in decision showcases the impact of public opinion and social media activism on corporate advertising choices.

Other companies, such as Mitsubishi and Bayer, also initially defended their continued advertising during Carlson's show, citing similar reasons to Farmers Insurance. They emphasized that their advertising decisions were based on demographics and psychographics rather than political affiliations. However, they also mentioned that they would monitor the situation and adjust their advertising strategies if necessary.

Farmers Insurance eventually pulled advertising from Tucker Carlson's show

In December 2018, Tucker Carlson, the host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Fox News, made comments about immigration that sparked backlash and led to an advertiser boycott. Carlson stated that mass illegal immigration made the United States "poorer, and dirtier, and more divided." This comment caused an uproar, with director Judd Apatow and other Twitter liberals calling for companies to boycott the show.

Initially, Farmers Insurance, along with a few other companies, resisted the boycott. In a statement to the media, Farmers Insurance explained that their advertising decisions "should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind as to a show's content or the individuals appearing on the show." They emphasized their commitment to advertising across a diverse range of networks and programs that reflect a variety of opinions and viewpoints.

However, as the boycott gained momentum, Farmers Insurance eventually changed their position. On December 28, 2018, a spokesperson for Farmers Insurance announced that they had "halted advertising on Tucker Carlson Tonight." This decision came after progressive activists Jordan Uhl and Sleeping Giants spearheaded a social media campaign targeting the show's advertisers.

With Farmers Insurance joining the list of companies withdrawing their support, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" faced a mass exodus of national advertisers. This development resulted in the program airing fewer total ad spots and breaks, relying more on network promotions and public service announcements.

The decision by Farmers Insurance and other companies to pull their advertisements from Tucker Carlson's show highlights the impact of social media campaigns and the sensitivity of corporations to being associated with controversial statements.

Companies such as Pacific Life, IHOP, and NerdWallet also pulled their ads from Tucker Carlson's show

In December 2018, Tucker Carlson, the host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight", a primetime Fox News program, made comments about immigration on his show. He said that allowing undocumented immigrants into the United States "makes our own country poorer and dirtier, and more divided." This led to a social media campaign by progressive activists Jordan Uhl and Sleeping Giants, targeting the show's advertisers. As a result, several companies pulled their ads from the show, including Pacific Life, IHOP, and NerdWallet.

Pacific Life Insurance was one of the first companies to pause its ads on "Tucker Carlson Tonight." In a statement, the company said it strongly disagreed with Carlson's statements and that its customer base and workforce reflected the diversity of the nation. They added that they would reevaluate their relationship with the program.

IHOP, the popular pancake chain, also pulled its ads from the show. In a statement, IHOP said it stood for "welcoming folks from all backgrounds and beliefs" and that it would continue to evaluate ad placements to ensure alignment with its values.

NerdWallet, a personal finance company, also joined the boycott. A spokesperson for the company said that they would be reevaluating future airtime on the show and that they take commensurate and appropriate action when their review determines that a show's content does not align with their company values.

In addition to these companies, other notable corporations that pulled their advertisements from "Tucker Carlson Tonight" include Minted, an online design marketplace, SmileDirectClub, a teledentistry company, and Indeed.com, a job search website.

Despite the boycott, some companies continued to advertise on "Tucker Carlson Tonight." These included Farmers Insurance, Bayer, Mitsubishi, John Deere, and MyPillow, among others. These companies defended their decision by stating that their advertising choices were based on demographics and psychographics rather than politics.

Some companies defended their continued advertising on Tucker Carlson's show

Several companies have defended their continued advertising on Tucker Carlson's show, stating that they do not make advertising decisions based on politics.

A spokesperson for Mitsubishi, which advertises during Carlson's show, told the Daily Beast that it makes decisions based on demographics. "Our advertising media spend is determined based on demographics and psychographics, not politics," the spokesperson said. "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."

Similarly, a spokesperson for Bayer, the owner of advertiser Alka-Seltzer Plus, said that the company regularly evaluates its advertising decisions. "Opinions or views expressed by the network's news programs or their hosts are solely those of the network and do not necessarily reflect those of Bayer, said the spokesperson. "Given the wide diversity of media today and the wide range of public opinion on any given issue, it would be an impossible task to find a major television or radio network whose entire programming schedule appeals to all audiences."

Farmers Insurance, another advertiser on Carlson's show, initially suggested that it would not pull advertisements, stating that its advertising decisions "should not be construed to be an endorsement of any kind as to a show's content or the individuals appearing on the show." However, Farmers Insurance later changed its position and announced that it had halted advertising on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, another prominent advertiser, said that it bases its advertising purchases on viewership and demographic relevance. "The content and opinions of the outlets, networks or websites for which we advertise are not reflective of our views or values as a company, " a spokesperson for AstraZeneca said. "However, as a standard practice, we regularly monitor our media programming to ensure it's aligned with our corporate values. As such, we will continue to assess our advertising purchases regarding the heightened attention surrounding this matter."

Other companies that have defended their continued advertising on Tucker Carlson's show include MyPillow, Sanofi, and John Deere, among others.

Companies such as Bayer, Mitsubishi, and MyPillow also continued advertising on Tucker Carlson's show

In December 2018, Tucker Carlson, the host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight," made comments about immigration, stating that it makes the United States "poorer and dirtier, and more divided." This sparked a backlash, with several companies pulling their ads from the show. However, some companies continued to advertise on the show, including Farmers Insurance, Bayer, Mitsubishi, and MyPillow.

A spokesperson for Farmers Insurance initially suggested that the company would not pull its advertisements, stating that their advertising decisions "should not be construed to be an endorsement of any kind as to a show's content or the individuals appearing on the show." However, Farmers Insurance later changed its position and announced that it had halted advertising on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Bayer, a pharmaceutical company, distanced itself from Carlson's views but did not pull its ads from the show. A spokesman for the company stated that the views expressed on opinion programs "are solely those of the network and do not necessarily reflect those of Bayer."

Mitsubishi also continued to advertise on the show, with a spokesperson stating that their advertising decisions are based on "demographics and psychographics, not politics." They added that they would monitor the situation and adjust their advertising if necessary.

MyPillow, owned by Trump supporter Mike Lindell, was one of the biggest advertisers on Carlson's show. Lindell defended his decision to continue advertising, stating that he makes advertising decisions based on what is best for his customers, employees, and the company. MyPillow's ads accounted for a significant portion of the advertising revenue for "Tucker Carlson Tonight," with estimates suggesting that they made up about 38% of the show's ad revenue in 2020.

While some companies chose to distance themselves from Tucker Carlson's show due to his controversial comments, others, like Bayer, Mitsubishi, and MyPillow, continued to advertise, sparking mixed reactions from the public.

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