Some Sponsors Hit Pause On FNC's Tucker Carlson

Fox News Channel has seen several companies say they will no longer run their commercials in the top-rated prime-time program “Tucker Carlson Tonight” due to the host’s recent comments on Black Lives Matter, the movement denouncing police brutality and racial bias that has gained substantial support among protesters nationwide in recent weeks following the death of George Floyd.

While much of the country and the media have taken a sympathetic view of the demonstrations spurred by the video of Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died on a Minneapolis street with his neck under the knee of a police officer, Carlson has been a harsh skeptic, The L-A Times reports.

Carlson has criticized Republican politicians who have expressed support or understanding of the protests since they began at the end of May. He also said it was “soulless” and “craven” to support Black Lives Matter and ran a scroll of celebrities who offered financial help to the cause in front of video of property set ablaze during the uprisings.

But, The Times reports Carlson crossed a line with advertisers when he said the movement “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.”

At least ive sponsors publicly stated they will no longer run in Carlson’s program. One of them, telecom company T-Mobile, stated its intention in a tweet from its Chief Executive Mike Sievert, who wrote “Bye-Bye Tucker.”

The others who distanced themselves are restaurant chain Papa John’s, the Walt Disney Co., SmileDirect Club and furniture maker Vari.

A Fox News Channel spokesperson stated that all national TV media advertising money from those advertiser departures in the "Carlson" show was moved to other Fox news programs.

A statement from Fox News Channel to a publication said Carlson's reference to “they” will “come for you” was referring to Democratic leaders and inner city politicians.

The latest exodus of advertisers is not expected to change Carlson’s status on the channel, as the network has stood by him in the past and he is a personal favorite of Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Carlson is also a major draw for Fox News Channel. In May, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” averaged 4.19 million viewers according to Nielsen, making it the second most-watched cable news program behind Fox’s “Hannity,” with 4.23 million.

Even with weak advertiser support, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” is valuable in driving viewers into the rest of the Fox News lineup. Fox News also gets more than half of its revenue from fees it gets from cable and satellite companies that carry the channel, lessening its dependence on advertising.