Post-Apology, Poisoned Limbaugh Brand Loses 4 More Advertisers After Continued Attacks
After Rush Limbaugh issued a tepid apology Saturday to Sandra Fluke, there was hope his personal attacks would have ended, but today on his conservative radio talk show Limbaugh continued his misogynistic and personal attacks against Sandra Fluke, and added the President and the Left to his list of those responsible for his attack against Fluke and contraception. And so, given his continued attacks, Limbaugh promptly lost another four advertisers, bringing the total now to at least twelve advertisers who have quit the Rush Limbaugh show.
Last week, Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke, a 30-year old Georgetown Law student, a “slut†and a “prostitute,â€Â and later she post online sex tapes.
“Limbaugh did some research into Fluke’s life and cast doubt on Fluke’s testimony before Congress, insinuating — without presenting any reason why — that Fluke’s testimony was fabricated,” Alex Seitz-Wald at Think Progress notes this afternoon. “In this new narrative, first advanced by conservative blogs, Fluke is perhaps not a slut, but instead the pawn of a radical leftist conspiracy to infiltrate Georgetown to force the school to provide birth control coverage to students.”
Sears, Allstate, Bonobos, and Tax Resolution dropped their advertising today from the Rush Limbaugh show, joining AOL, Carbonite, ProFlowers, Citrix Online and all its businesses, including the popular GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC. Also leaving Limbaugh over the past few days are Legal Zoom, Cleveland Cavaliers, Quicken Loans, Sleep Number, and The Sleep Train.
“Allstate’s advertising purchase strategy has not included the Rush Limbaugh Show,” Allstate claimed in a Facebook post. “Earlier today, we responded to inquiries about our advertising relationship with the show by stating we did not advertise on or sponsor it. As radio listeners notified us that they were hearing Allstate ads during the show this afternoon, we contacted the vendor that arranges for our advertising placements and discovered that an error had been made and advertising time had mistakenly been purchased for the show.”
“We regret providing mistaken information about this situation. We have asked our media buying firm to correct the error by discontinuing any advertising on the Rush Limbaugh Show moving forward in keeping with our original advertising plans and strategies.”
At this point, the only major advertiser sticking with Rush Limbaugh is LifeLock, which issued a statement of support for the embattled Limbaugh brand.
“We do not agree with Rush Limbaugh’s recent comments but we acknowledge his apology,” LifeLock Chief Marketing Office Marvin Davis wrote in a statement. “At this time, we are not making any changes to our advertising program,” The Huffington Post reported, adding:
For her part, Fluke, while not accepting Limbaugh’s Saturday apology, has remained publicly neutral on whether advertisers should boycott Limbaugh’s show.
American Forces Radio, Hillsdale College and Lear Capital seem to the the only other advertisers that have yet to declare their intentions or to quit.
Characterizing his reaction to losing most of his advertisers as “deep unconcern,” the NY Daily News notes today:
“I’m sorry to see them go,” he told listeners. “But they have profited handsomely from reaching you.… Now they have decided they don’t want to reach you any more and we will replace them with advertisers who do.”
Fluke didn’t take a stand on advertisers, but she did say she was unimpressed with Limbaugh’s apology.
Think Progress notes a “Hawaii affiliate is believed to be the first [radio] station to drop Limbaugh since the controversy began.”
Related:
Limbaugh: I Apologized Because I “Acted Too Much Like The Leftists†(Audio)
Sandra Fluke: “I Don’t Think Limbaugh’s Apology Changes Anything†(Video)
With 9 Gone, Does Rush Limbaugh Have Any Advertisers Left?
Add AOL To List Of Rush’s Advertisers Fleeing Toxic Limbaugh Brand
UPDATE: Why Is LifeLock Still Sponsoring Rush Limbaugh?
Now 8: Limbaugh Brand So Toxic Two More Advertisers Quit After “Apologyâ€
Limbaugh: Apologies, Excuses and Sluts
Limbaugh Brand Poison As List Of Advertisers Quitting Jumps Yet Again
Breaking: Fifth Advertiser Quits Rush Limbaugh After “Slut†Comments
Santorum On “Slut†Slur: Limbaugh An “Entertainer†Who Was “Being Absurdâ€
Limbaugh “Should Apologize†Says Scott Brown, First GOPer To Denounce
Third Limbaugh Advertiser Quits After Rush Calls 30 Year Old A ‘Slut’
Limbaugh Advertiser Exits Stage Left After Rush’s “Slut†Comments
Limbaugh: Law Student GOP Wouldn’t Let Testify Must Post Sex Tapes Online
Limbaugh Calls Law Student GOP Wouldn’t Let Testify “Prostitute†And “Slutâ€
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