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 Fox News said in a statement that the conservative commentator
has been the target of far-left activist organizations since he
made the remarks on his show on Thursday.
"We cannot and will not allow voices like Tucker Carlson to be
censored by agenda-driven intimidation efforts," it said.
"While we do not advocate boycotts, these same groups never
target other broadcasters and operate under a grossly
hypocritical double standard given their intolerance to all
opposing points of view,” the network added.
Fox, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc <FOXA.O>, did not
name the advertisers that pulled their spots on the show or say
how many there were, but said Farmers Insurance, Bayer <BAYGn.DE>
and Mitsubishi Corp <8058.T> stayed.
It said all the advertisers that left were moving to other shows
on the network and no revenue has been lost.
Republican President Donald Trump has made immigration reform
one of his priorities and has promised to crack down on illegal
crossings at the southern U.S. border with Mexico.
Carlson took up the topic again on his show on Monday, saying
unregulated mass immigration from Mexico has hurt the natural
landscape of the United States.
"Those who won't shut up get silenced," he said. "The enforcers
scream 'Racist!' on Twitter until everybody gets intimidated and
changes the subject ... We are not intimidated."
Several media reported at least 11 advertisers had stopped
running spots on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" since he made the
remarks last week, including IHOP, Voya Financial Inc <VOYA.N>,
Just for Men and Nerd Wallet.
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Other advertisers that pulled spots included Zenni Optical, Minted
and Pacific Life, the media reported.
"As a company, we strongly disagree with Mr. Carlson's statements.
Our customer base and our workforce reflect the diversity of our
great nation, something we take great pride in," Pacific Life said
in a statement on Twitter.
Activists have previously used Twitter to post the home address of
Carlson, the news site Mediaite reported Nov. 9. Demonstrators have
targeted Carlson's home in Washington with a protest and shouted
threats, he told the Washington Post.
“Attempts were made last month to bully and terrorize Tucker and his
family at their home," the network said in its statement on Tuesday.
"He is now once again being threatened via Twitter by far left
activist groups with deeply political motives.”
In March, at least 12 companies pulled their advertisements from
Laura Ingraham's show on Fox News after the conservative pundit
mocked a teenage survivor of the Florida school massacre that killed
17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Parkland
suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; additional reporting by
Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
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